LtJSE, NATURE, 

'^PREVENTION 



or 



SEA-SICKNESS. 



HUDSON 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



i|ap. ©op^rigl^ !f o* 

W^ 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



SEA-SICK:^rESS: 



ITS 



CAUSE, NATURE, AND PREVENTION 
WITHOUT medici:n:e or cha^^ge 

IN DIET. 



A SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL SOLUTION 
OF THE PROBLEM, 



BY 



WILLIAM H. HUDSON, 




Boston: 

S. E. CASSmO AND COMPAlSfY. 

1883. 



^.^^':' 



Copyright, 

BY MARY E. SUBSOIL. 

1883. 



ELECTROTYPED. 



BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY, 
No. 4 Peakl Street. 



PEE FACE. 



In this little volume the author presents a 
method by which the ocean traveller may 
secure immunity from sea-sickness, without 
change in diet or aid of medicine. 

Athouo:h occasionino^ 2:reat sufferinofs, and 
sometimes even fatal in its effects, sea-sick- 
ness is not a disease, properly so called. It 
is due solely to the violations of natural laws, 
throuo^h io^norance of their true nature ; and 
its prevention is possible to all by the use of 
correct principles, simple in themselves and 
easy in their application. The information 
herein offered is the result of observations 
and experiments made upon the ocean, and 
carefully noted during a period of more than 
twenty-five years. 

If universally acted upon sea- sickness would 
at once cease to exist. 



CONTEiq^TS. 



PART PAGE 

Appeal to Physicians 7 

I. Address to the Keader 9 

II. Sea-Sickness, its Cause, Nature, and 

Prevention without Medicine . . 18 
III. Proofs of Theory drawn from Obser- 
vation 47 

TV. Relaxation of the Muscular System 

considered in its General Uses . . 61 

Y. Hints to Beginners in Ocean Travel, 71 

YI. Habit Illustrated 76 

YII. A Word of Caution 84 

YIII. Storm Lesson 100 

IX. Notes 121 

Life, 121; Mind, 122; Nerves, 123; Mus- 
cles, 124; Sleep, 126; Citation, 131. 



Index, Analytical 137 



An Appeal to Physicians: 

The work here presented discloses for the 
first time the true cause and nature of sea- 
sickness. It is written so clearly and simply 
that all may understand and apply its teach- 
ings ; but great numbers of people prefer 
oral instruction to reading, and naturally will 
apply to you for advice. You have earned 
this confidence by your life-study of the heal- 
ing art. You can impart information accept- 
ably when the printed word would fail. To 
you I commend my little volume, believing 
that you will at once perceive its truth, and 
welcome it as a valuable helper in lifting from 
the suffering sea-traveller the crushing burden 
he has so lono- borne. 



o 



May 7, 1883. 



SEA-SICIOnESS, 

CAUSE, NATURE, AND PREVENTION. 



I. 

ADDRESS TO THE READER. 

In commencing this \York, I ask your per- 
mission to use the personal form of address, 
and a familiar style, tliat I may the better 
win your interest, dispel possible prejudice, 
and induce you to weigh with candor the 
statements I shall make. 

My topic, in common with all scientific sub- 
jects, forbids the felicity of expression, the 
poetic fervor, and finish of style required by 
those which are purely literary. Clearness, 
precision, and force are alone necessary : and 
these I have attempted to attain. If I have 
offended by repetition or undue fulness of 
statement, I plead in excuse the earnest desire 

9 



10 SEA-SICKNESS. 

to simplify my instructions, and so adapt them 
to the needs of the busiest, the most careless, 
and the least instructed of my readers. 

This book is the outgrowth of my own per- 
sonal experience, written after I had fully 
attained control over sea-sickness in my own 
person. It was then, and not before, that it 
occurred to me that the facts which were 
quarried out to serve me should also become 
the servants of others, who, like myself, are 
victims. 

Difficulties occur in producing the facts 
which form this work not usual in book-mak- 
ing. Previous writings upon this subject 
afford no light or guide upon it. It has 
ever been a " dark continent." To enter it 
was to come at once into a trackless jungle, 
filled with every obstructing medium which 
the name of jungle implies. Such is the ap- 
pearance of sea-sickness to the observer when 
groping among its effects in the human body. 
The nature of these effects are boisterous ; 
they becloud the observer's vision and 'm- 



ADDRESS TO THE READER. 11 

pede his search ; they completely obscure 
the still and silent cause. 

Works treating upon the human body, 
which are worthy of respect, uniformly 
characterize sea-sickness as incurable ; and it 
is no wonder that this is so. Out of this 
state of recorded knowledge has come a habit 
firmly fixed in the public mind that no hope 
was to be expected. To change a habit of 
mind is no less difficult than to change a habit 
of body. It cannot be accomplished by 
force, as the mind is free. It became neces- 
sary for me to surround the subject with 
copious details of facts, the nature of which 
must be made plain to the understanding. 
Such were the grounds which claimed my 
attention as I commenced this book ; and to 
their considerations I have adhered in its 
composition. This will account for what at 
times, perhaps, may be deemed irrelevant 
matter, but which the reader may find, ulti- 
mately, none too fiiU when he becomes en- 
tangled in an ocean storm. 



12 SEA-SICKXESS. 

The subject of sea-sickness has been of 
deep interest to me for many years. I loved 
the ocean for its (to me) concealed wonders. 
This love seemed to have been born with me 
in my inland home. It became in my early 
boyhood a passion. My mental eye fairly 
feasted upon its wonders. My little fingers 
were busy in tracing out its winding boun- 
daries upon my school-maps. My young 
mind was made quiet and happy, in the corner 
by the evening fire, by the story-books of the 
sea. Thus my mind filled the trackless 
spaces of the great ocean with all that was 
free and grand. 

At an earl}^ period of life I removed to the 
coast, and for the first time saw the wide 
Atlantic. Visions of intense enjoyment in 
making a closer acquaintance with its myste- 
rious charms rose before me, to be checked 
but too soon by a knowledge of that remorse- 
less power which exacts the tribute of sufier- 
ing from all who sail its waters. Yet my 
ardor was not extinguished — was, indeed, 



ADDRESS TO THE READER. 13 

hardly moderated, — on the contrary, I re- 
solved to attain my end, even at the expense 
of physical discomforts, Tvhile I believed a 
prevention might be found if faithfully 
sought. 

After a time business required of me a sea- 
voyage. I welcomed the opportunity for 
investigating at leisure the cause of sea- 
sickness as the first step to its relief. The 
knowledge acquired by this experience was 
very limited, and that even was sadly marred 
by the sufferings inflicted on me. Still eager 
for knowledge on this point, I resorted to 
libraries, but books that were treasuries of 
learning on other subjects were silent on this. 
I conversed with physicians, but they were 
more profitably employed than in considering 
questions deemed unanswerable, I inquired 
of scientific men, but they were still more 
reticent. The world seemed to wear a dull 
and lowering look upon this subject, which 
was well-calculated to squelch my enthusiasm. 
It exhibited a unit of unbelief. This appear- 



14 SEA-SICKNESS. 

ance somehow, did not have any effect in 
deterring me from inquiry. There was an 
honest, sturdy unbelief to be met everywhere, 
which was as firm as adamant, that sea-sick- 
ness could never find relief; and such is still 
the case. Indeed, as my mind runs back 
over the lines of thought in past ages, I 
find ever the same dull plane of apathy and 
indifference. 

Thus compelled, (as it were,) I continued 
to study without aid, and the results of these 
many years form the warp and woof of this 
volume. 

And now, dear reader, although you can 
hardly be otherwise than skeptical on this 
matter, yet if you will keep your mind un- 
biased and receptive, I will offer you con- 
vincing proof of the theory I am about to 
advance. I will show you that sea-sickness 
is not a necessary evil, but that it can be pre- 
vented by simply obeying the laws of nature. 
If you will study attentively and practice 
faithfully the system of muscular training of 



ADDRESS TO THE READER. 15 

"which I shall explain the method and neces- 
sity, you can sail the ocean with as absolute 
immunity from the sickness it usually inflicts 
as you can travel by land. 

Strange as this may seem, and doubtful as 
it may now appear to you, this evil of six 
thousand years of recorded life may be utterly 
vanquished ; and that, too, by the simple use 
of only your own powers, which were vested 
in you by your Creator for that very pur- 
pose. In this age of enlightenment and 
augmented facility, ignorance upon this mat- 
ter seems to have the rank odor of crime 
about it. It has filched untold delights from 
the weary and worn landsman. Its occasioned 
losses to the world are untold and not to be 
estimated. The treasuries of art, the current 
culture, the vast inheritance from a common 
ancestry, whose homes and works remain in 
the keeping of a European kindred, are still 
viewed as sacred, and command an interest 
and a reverence from the far-oft' children in 
their western homes. The European is not 



16 SEA-SiCKNESS. 

less interested in the fresh life and elemental 
achievements of their western lineage. Among 
these are thousands on thousands of men and 
women lavishly endowed to appreciate, to un- 
derstand, to criticise, to write, to correct, 
and thus to straighten the lines and expedite 
true progress. 

The orderly workings of these natural and 
beneficent methods are marred and hindered 
by sea-sickness. Numbers, not a few, hav- 
ing crossed the ocean and suffered from this 
cause, remain in exile, accepting voluntary 
banishment from home and kindred rather 
than risk the ordeal of a return voyage. 

The benefits of the ocean itself have been 
largely denied or neutralized to those most 
sorely in need of its healing powers. The 
ocean is, indeed, a health-giver. A foun- 
tain of healino' waters, whence comes vi^-or 
and renewed pleasurable existence to the 
broken and brain-sick man of the land, — a 
place of rest nowhere else to be found in 
equal purity and perfection. 



ADDRESS TO THE READER. 17 

It comes to be my task, and is a pleasure, 
to point the way to the correction of errors, 
and the attainment of gifts which have been 
held in store for man for all time. I do this 
boldly and in fearless confidence. I shall 
direct your steps in no pathway which has 
not been trodden by myself, and found to be 
secure and practical. I ask your candid 
attention. 



SYSTEM. 

That very law which monlds a tear 
And bids it trickle from its source ; 

That law preserves the earth a sphere 
And guides the planets in their course,' 



n. 



SEA-SICKNESS : ITS CAUSE, NATURE, AND 
PREVENTION. 

All efforts for the prevention and control 
of sea-sickness Iiave liitherto been made 
through the medium of drugs. These are 
in themselves disturbing causes. Just in 
the proportion that they act at all, they 
lessen instead of increasing the chances for 
the patient's comfort. 

Sea-sickness results from disobedience to 
natural laws. Such being the case, it is 
necessary to ascertain precisely what those 
laws are, in their application to, and demand 
upon, the human body. 



CAUSE AND PREVENTION. 19 

This involves a very brief recapitulation 
of some of the elementary facts of physi- 
ology. By way of general explanation, I 
would state that the construction of the 
nerves and the two orders of muscles are 
amply described in books which are acces- 
sible to all, and it is, therefore, needless for 
me to speak of them only so far as their use 
may serve to explain my subject. I shall 
generally discard the use of the Avord stimu- 
lus, and make use of the word life, instead, 
when treating of the motive power which 
acts upon man's body. 

The motions .of the human body are pro- 
duced by the action of the muscles. There 
are between five and six hundred separate 
muscles employed in the body for the per- 
formance of its duties. These are arrano:ed 
in two grand divisions, known as voluntary 
and involuntary. The latter is used by the 
vital organs, and has a character peculiar to 
itself, by which it is enabled to work under 
the mysterious power of life, with ceaseless 



20 SEA-SICKNESS. 

activity, without fatigue, and substantially, 
without government from the mind. 

The voluntary system is ramified by nerves 
of sensation and motion, which traverse in 
pairs the whole system, leaving no minute 
part unprovided; thus furnishing a system 
for the supply of power, and also a system 
of telegraphy connected directly with the 
brain, the seat of intelligence and the home 
of the mind, — thus making the mind omni- 
present in the body. Thus, the voluntary 
sytem of muscles is under the control of the 
mind. Consequently the mind is placed in 
the command of the motions of the body, 
which they are made to obey with precision 
and despatch. 

These voluntary muscles are subjects for 
education during all orderly life in the body. 
This education in the child is conducted by 
long and tedious experiment and imitation, 
and supplemented by extensive exercise. In 
the adult the mind comprehends and directs, 
and practice insures the result, thus fitting 



CAUSE AND PKEVENTIOK^. 21 

the muscles for their respective duties. Prac- 
tice must ever be an essential element in the 
formation of all motions if the body is to 
become a perfect instrument for the mind. 
A time comes when the muscular education 
is so far complete that passable motions may 
be produced on the first attempt, but repeti- 
tion will add dignity and grace and other- 
wise improve them. 

The muscles are separate organic forms, 
highly endowed with life. They may act 
separately during states of disorder ; but 
when in order they act, in a sense together, 
under what is known as reciprocal action, — 
which really is a confederation or correlation 
of the muscles, — and secure to the body 
the complete unity of force. Each muscle 
merges its own individuality in that of all the 
others, and the whole work under the dic- 
tates of the mind as one muscle. The mind, 
therefore, has by a single impulse the total 
force of the body under its instant com- 
mand. 



22 SEA-SICKNESS. 

The nerves are minute, filmy sheaths, in 
which is contained substance similar to that 
of the brain, and are outcomes from the 
brain, substantially a part of it. They are 
inert, void of motion and strength, and are 
endowed w^ith the property by which they 
transmit sensation 'and life. Thus they are 
vehicles for thouo-ht and feelino;. Their office 
is to convey intelligence and power, and in 
this service the mind employs them. 

The nervous and muscular systems form 
substantially the realm of the body, over 
which the mind holds sway. And while laws 
are obeyed, this realm is a most agreeable 
abode. It is guarded on every hand. Noth- 
ing however trivial can enter this immense 
domain without in some way aflecting the 
whole. Hopes, fears, affection, sjanpathy, 
in short, all emotions flow through the body, 
changing its action and producing different 
manifestations. We may realize this, in a 
partial degree, in the face of a friend with 
whom we may be in conversation. All the 



CAUSE AND PREVENTION. 23 

delicate chano'es there occurrino:, and multi- 
tudes besides which are invisible, are but the 
production of this perfect and wonderful 
instrument in the employ of the mind. 

The reader may now see what a force is 
placed at his command. The nerves are his 
messengers, the muscles are his servants. 
Every motion he desires, be it slow or quick, 
soft or harsh, careless or precise, will be 
instantly executed. There is no practical 
limit to the changes and manifestations pos- 
sible by means of the combined use and 
action of the nerves and muscles. 

In the few preceding words I have 
brought to your attention in sufficient detail 
for my purpose the means at your command, 
which, if used intelligently, will exempt you 
from sea-sickness, and perhaps afford you a 
means of comfort in other important rela- 
tions in life. 

I will now consider what we shall experi- 
ence and be called upon to overcome by the 
orderly use of the powers which have been 



24 SEA-SICKNESS. 

traced as being at your command. The most 
prominent of these is gravity. This we 
understand as an elementary force in the 
universe. It acts upon all objects, com- 
pounds, and things, keeping all in a fixed and 
definite position with reference to the com- 
mon centre of our globe. This is its aim, 
and for this it is furnished with a mild, but 
at the same time irresistible power. When 
objects or things obey gravity they are said 
to be in equilibrium. They are really at 
rest. In this state the man is altogether 
unconscious of the existence of any such force 
acting upon his body. If the body for any 
cause is thrown out of this relation, it be- 
comes the instant effort of gravity to re- 
store it. 

The actual operation of this law is seen 
when a stone is started from the top of a 
declivity. That stone will become content 
only when it reaches a place of rest. We 
see the true line which gravity imposes upon 
the human body, which secures perfect rest 



CAUSE AND PREVENTION. 25 

to the body, in the plumb-line and ball. 
The ball set in motion will finall}^ come to a 
rest. This is done by gravity alone. We 
are unable by calculation to determine this 
point until it is marked by the unbiased 
movement of the ball coming to a rest. 
Whatever opposes this law must inevitably 
experience defeat. It acts upon the body as 
a whole, and also on all the adjuncts of the 
body separately. 

The fact that certain compounds are en- 
closed in vessels does not interfere with the 
action of gravity. Solid, fluid, or aeriform 
substances alike obey it. The motions of 
the body are influenced and are equally 
amenable to it as the vast masses of the 
planets which roll in stellar space. The 
efiect of this attracting power upon the 
fluids of the body, and every atom or 
particle which compose the body, may be 
seen objectively by placing water in a dish 
and chano^ins: its level. The Avater will move 
from side to side in strict obedience to 



26 SEA-SICKNESS. 

gravity to come to rest at a place the nearest 
to the actual centre of the earth. The body 
is composed of four-fifths fluid, which en- 
deavors to perform the same thing as the 
water in the dish, when the body antagonizes 
gravity. Fhiids in the body in some degree 
act as graduators to enable the body to con- 
form itself to gravity, similar in this respect to 
the ocean, which acts as a movable graduator 
for the globe, thus holding the earth to the 
form of a sphere in agreement to this law. 

We come naturall}^ to details in this study 
for the purpose of seeing what occurs to the 
body under ultra conditions. It has been 
stated above that the unity of force and con- 
sequent order of the body depends upon the 
reciprocal action of the muscles. If this is 
disturbed, the mind is dethroned. It loses its 
command of a united force, and order is gone. 
We may readily appreciate the condition if 
we reflect that some hundreds of muscles, all 
abounding with life and action, are cast loose, 
and work, each more or less, in its own way 



CAUSE AXD PREYEXTIOX. 27 

without a central authoritative commander. 
Disobedience to gravity causes the suspension 
of the reciprocal action of the muscles, and 
there is imposed upon the body the above 
disordered condition. This is what we call 
sea-sickness. Sea-sickness is by no means a 
disease, as has always been suspected. Yet 
this is not saying much in palliation. The 
organs are all in a healthy state, but they 
are in awful disorder. If we compare sea- 
sickness with other ailments, as to human 
suffering, it outranks anything which I can 
conceive of, and I am not destitute of com- 
petent knowledge as to sea-sickness in my 
own person in all its phases. I am also 
tolerably well-informed as to the sensations 
produced by extracting teeth. 

There is always a specific point in man's 
body nearer than any other to the centre of 
the globe, which is known as the centre of 
gravit}^ to which the superincumbent mass 
above must adjust itself. This is also called 
the point of rest. If no movement of the 



28 SEA-SICKNESS. 

body takes place, it is maintained in this 
state of equilibrium ; but as soon as any motion 
disturbs this arrangement gravity asserts its 
power. If the head and arms are thrown 
forward, a leg and foot must be thrust 
backward to maintain equal pressure over 
this point of rest. If the head is pushed 
still further forward without a corresponding 
movement backward, we become giddy. 
This, we may regard, as a timely warning 
that the equipoise is broken. If we continue 
to advance our upper body beyond the line 
of gravity, the body will be thrown to the 
ground. 

Few, perhaps, fully realize how friendly 
afid beneficent this power which holds the 
universe in order is to the human body. 
When men violate its laws it gives the gen- 
tle warning of giddiness while on the land, 
and it sends gentle notice on the water, in 
the form of nausea, before proceeding to ex- 
ercise its terrible force by which the man is 
thrust down to a place of rest, that he may 



CAUSE AND PREVENTION. 29 

regain his equilibrium, or agreement with 
gravity. 

In general, we do not take account of 
gravity through any action of our minds. 
We learn about it in childhood by many a 
hard bump on our heads, and not a few 
bruised bodies. In that way it became a 
perfect habit, — so perfect, indeed, that our 
bodies respond to the most gentle hint of 
gravity, and thus we are protected. It has 
become so common with us all that we do 
not think about it, even when it is highly 
important that we should do so. If we go 
upon the edge of a high cliff or lofty build- 
ing, and become dizzy, w^e do not always 
think that gravity has become offended, and 
that it is the cause of this peculiar sensation. 
Yet, if we would reflect, we should perceive 
that fear had become an adjunct of the mind, 
and caused the body to shrink away from the 
line of rest, and that gravity now interposes 
its authority to draw us away from danger 
by this significant warning of dizziness. 



30 SEA-SICKNESS. 

Fear in the mind dulls the fine instincts of 
the body, and the mind is deprived of cor- 
rect information. In this way the delicate 
hints of gravity, which are the natural safe- 
guards, are disregarded, and the body is un- 
wittingly led into absolute rebellion to gravity, 
and is really the victim of fear. Further on 
we shall have occasion to say more about 
fear, as it is an active and vigilant enemy at 
times, and shall be duly unmasked for your 
benefit. 

It must be quite apparent that gravity 
brings the man into subjection to its require- 
ments by regular stages of progress, when 
possible — the first being its external warn- 
ing, followed by the internal reaction of 
the fluids which completes the demoralization, 
— and thus the government becomes a wreck. 
Each stage leaves a chance for the man to 
correct his error, if he will. 

I have spoken thus at length on the nature 
of gravity, because its methods of action are 
apparently obscure in the minds of the 



CAUSE AND PREVENTION. 31 

greater number of people who are very in- 
telligent upon other matters. Moreover, it 
is only through this ignorance that sea-sick- 
ness has baffled the observers of the past, 
and practically controlled the human race 
since the world bes^an. 

But the question arises, how has it done 
so? The answer is, when I am on the ocean 
my centre of gravity is moved from its 
accustomed place by the incline of the deck, 
occasioned by wave-action on the ship. My 
mind is unprepared for this change. It is 
occupied by observing the new and strange 
surroundings, of sea and sky, and vessel, 
and does not pay attention to the demands 
of gravity. Fear defined, or undefined, en- 
ters the mind, and lends a hand in the pre- 
vailing confusion; nausea sets in, and this 
warning is not understood, and prostrating 
sea-sickness will follow apace unless I yield 
at once to the dictates of gravity, w^hich has 
at this point become pretty thoroughly 
offended. 



32 SEA-SICKNESS. 

But precisely how am I to do this ? We 
will see. When I am on the land if I do 
anything which disturbs gravity, I resist it 
with muscular tension, and this is proper 
there, and restores harmony. On the ocean 
I naturally, from long habit, attempt the 
same thing, but here it is all wrong. Gravity 
is the same on both sea and land ; but if I 
resist on the ocean, the effort is at once nul- 
lified by the moving surface. I feel the con- 
flicting influence of two opposing forces, 
gravity and Avave-action, and both are abso- 
lutely irresistible. Therefore, before I can 
become at ease, I must yield obedience to 
both these powers, and the only way left to 
do do this is to relax my muscles. This I 
can do by the simple determination of my 
mind ; since, as we have seen, the muscles 
are truly and entirely under mental control. 
My body instantly becomes pliant, and 
yields to both the overruling powers. 

When the muscles are held in tension, 
by which the form is maintained erect, and 



CAUSE AND PREVENTION. 33 

the bodily movements are made sharp and 
decisive, the weight of the body is distrib- 
uted among all the muscles. Each sup- 
ports its part, while at the same time, like 
pressure upon a coil of wire, tension makes 
each muscle a spring. This gives an elastic 
step, which is the characteristic of the most 
approved gait for land. This habit cannot 
be transferred to the ocean. Gravity and 
the motion of the sea absolutely forbid 
it. Gravity and the ocean both compel the 
use of muscles in dominant relaxation. 
They must and will have loose muscles. If 
you try to evade this, you will surely pay 
the penalty, which is sea-sickness. 

We will see how this dominant relaxation 
works, and what its mode is of producing 
such a revolution in such an easy way. I 
have stated above what tension does, and 
how it disposes the weight of the body. 
We find that relaxation acts quite as effi- 
ciently in another way. It places the weight 
of the body in the feet. It becomes abso- 



34 SEA-SICKNESS. 

lute ballast for the body, and thus leaves 
the upper parts of the body light, and in a 
perfect condition to obey gravity with no 
resistance. The true line and centre of 
gravity is perfectly accommodated by a pro- 
cess the exact opposite to that in use upon 
the land. When relaxation takes the weight 
to the lowest part of the body, the same 
thing is done for the body as we perform in 
placing ballast in the hold of a ship, and it is 
for the same reason in both that gravity may 
be thus accommodated. 

Such is the nature of sea-sickness that if 
a person when on the sea is able, either con- 
sciously or unconsciously, to yield passively 
to the varied demands of the forces that act 
upon him, he finds no discomforts. But if 
he persists in doing as he would upon the 
land, he finds two forces warring in his mem- 
bers. His muscles, hard to their utmost 
rigidity, are tr3^ing to hold the particles, both 
fluid and solid, of his internal organs in one 
place, while the motions of the vessel and the 



CAUSE AND PREVENTION. 35 

• 

attraction of gravity are continually drawing 
them to another place. Between these forces 
the poor victim becomes a sorry wreck, and 
giddiness, nausea, and sea-sickness close in 
upon him, and he becomes a prisoner with 
tortures which must be felt in order to be 
understood. 

It will thus be seen that the perfect and 
only remedy for sea-sickness is relaxation of 
the muscular system, fully comprehended 
and diligently practised, until it becomes a 
habit. 

This process of holding the muscles loosely 
is as easy as that of tension. Indeed, it is 
much easier, only, as it is a new habit, it re- 
quires a short season of attention to its exer- 
cise in order to fix the habit, or to change 
from one to the other with ease. 

If 3^our mind is foirly convinced without 
any lingering doubts or uncertainty, all im- 
pediments will disappear and the habit will 
be yours at once, — and so perfect will it be- 
come that your body will be guarded in its 



36 SEA-SICKNESS. 

slumbers with equal care as when you are 
awake. 

A comparison of motions on land and 
sea will familiarize your mind with this sub- 
ject. When I walk up and down,- and 
around the sides of a hill which inclines 
at an angle of thirty degrees, I feel no in- 
convenience in consequence of this sharp 
incline. I am not dizzy, nor do I think 
about gravity. If I analyze my motions, I 
find that in the ascent I leaned forward with 
the upper parts of my body. In the descent 
I lean backward. In moving round the hill 
I shorten the leg on the up-hill side, and 
leno^then the les; on the down-hill side. This 
is what we all do under relaxation of our 
muscles, and it is all performed by an auto- 
matic process which has caused us no con- 
scious thought. 

When on shipboard I find the vessel roll- 
ing, my motion to accommodate this is the 
same as that of passing around the sides of a 
hill, and when the ship pitches, and tosses up 



CAUSE AND PREVENTION. 37 

her bows in mounting a sea, my motions are 
the same as in going up and down the hill ; 
therefore these movements arc not wholly new 
to me ; and, if no fear has crept into my mind, 
I can perform them Avithout much embarrass- 
ment. 

There are, however, motions produced by 
the ocean swells which are so widely different 
from anything experienced on land, and so 
highly imporant that they require a detailed 
description. The swell is by far the most 
dangerous motion which we meet. These 
swells themselves are generally known as 
tidal. They exist in all waters which ebb and 
flow. They are present and extremely 
effective for mischief to our land-trained 
bodies on a glassy sea. They are increased 
in magnitude but unchanged in regularity by 
winds. They may be seen, a spent and 
dying force, as they roll in upon the beach. 
On the blue waters of the broad ocean 
they are the very ideal of majesty, and the 
mind unconsciously receives their steady 



38 SEA-SICKNESS. 

and measured semblance of breathing as evi- 
dence of life. 

These SAvells are smooth and lengthened 
masses of water. They are undulations with- 
out progress. Their altitude is various, some- 
times hardly noticeable, and without a ripple or 
fleck upon their surface. Winds act on them 
quickly, producing ripples, increasing the 
ripples to white caps, and then tossing and 
tumbling them into a wide expanse of danc- 
ing, flashing foam crests ; or the wind may 
become a gale or tempest, when all in view 
is one vast roaring and tumultuous mass of 
chopped and broken swell and threatening 
billows. Such are some of the surround- 
ings in which you will find yourself upon 
the ocean. 

Mark the contrast between the calm and 
changeless land you have left and this restless 
surface, on which you are to learn to find a 
quiet and comfortable home. 

The ship before she leaves the wharf takes 
in ballast, which acts upon her in the same way 



CAUSE AND PREVENTION. 39 

as the leaden ball upon the plumb-line. The 
dash of the waves and the action of the swell 
destroys the state of rest induced by gravity, 
and moves the ship out of its true line. The 
frantic eflbrt of the ship under the pressure of 
her ballast to restore her equipoise produces 
peculiar motions, which are made noticeable 
by the changing incline of the deck. These 
motions are the true seat of our difficulty, 
and it is, therefore, necessary to explain them 
with some degree of detail. A ship pitches, 
rolls, lurches, rises and falls vertically, 
staggers, trembles, takes on a permanent 
list, and makes other less important motions. 
All these are subject to varying degrees of 
intensity. There is no such thing as a 
simple motion of a ship ; all are compound, 
made up of two or perhaps the whole cata- 
logue given above. Every addition increases 
the complication of the resulting motion 
which acts upon our bodies. The pitch, roll, 
and the vertical movements are a constant 
compound. The lurch is occasional, but hard 



40 SEA-SICKNESS. 

to bear, as it is irregular, — produced by a 
glide of the ship out of her true course as she 
passes diagonally downward to the hollow 
from the top of a swell. 

The vertical, or rise and fall, occasioned 
by the tidal wave, or swell, is a part of every 
movement, and is the most to be feared. It 
is ceaseless and new ; the land afibrds to us no 
parallel. It causes in us the feeling that the 
ship will never cease moving upward, or 
downward, unless we resist with all our 
might. This we do involuntarily with muscu- 
lar tension, although we cannot but perceive 
that our opposition reacts upon ourselves in 
the same proportion to the force expended. 
The muscles become rigid, or tense, and this 
resistance results in certain sea-sickness. To 
prevent this, or cure it, if it has acquired 
foothold, we must make use of the precise 
opposite to tension, which is its perfect anti- 
dote ; namely, relaxation or non-resistance, 
which is simply a pliant, supple condition of 
the body. 



CAUSE AND PREVENTION. 41 

This vertical motion, from its force and 
constancy, is the underlying element among 
the motions that act with the most potent 
power in producing sea-sickness. It may be 
illustrated by the common swing, with which 
its motions are very nearly identical. To 
make the illustration quite complete, the 
ropes for the swing should be about twenty 
feet in length, thus giving a long sweep, 
which is a glide upward and downward. So 
long as we use muscular exertion to extend 
and prolong the sweeps we experience de- 
light ; the swing becomes one with our body, 
and the harmony is complete ; but if muscular 
force is used in resistance to it nausea will 
result. I need only to insert " ship " in 
place of swing, and you have the whole 
matter open before your mind. 

The most obvious and demonstrative de- 
rangement to the body occurring in sea- 
sickness makes its appearance in the frontal 
region of the body, including the thorax and 
abdomen. When the vessel rises the muscles 



42 SEA-SICKNESS. 

of this region pull in resistance downward ; 
when the vessel sinks to the trough of the 
sea they pull upward, thus producing a con- 
tinuous churn-like motion. This has the 
same effect upon the contractile walls of the 
stomach as if an emetic was acting therein, 
while at the same time the movements act 
with great efficiency upon all the fluids con- 
tained within the vessels of the body. The 
involuntary system does not wholly escape 
this widespread influence, as we have the 
diaphragm somewhat involved, which gives 
its notice in the sensation of suffocation. The 
blood is irregularly distributed, some organs 
becoming surcharged, while others are de- 
frauded, and a whole host of symptoms arise, 
more or less obscure, but none the less per- 
plexing, but comparatively overlooked be- 
cause less obtrusive than others which have 
the ability to make their troubles known in a 
very disagreeable manner. For instance, the 
stomach, which has had the very unenviable 
credit of being the seat of the difficulty, and 



CAUSE AKD PREVENTION. 4S 

has had to do penance for this suspicion, in 
getting rid of horrid mixtures placed there to 
cure the suspicion. It is pretty nearly the 
same with the innocent nerves, or some special 
groups of them. These have had to undergo 
the torture of paralyzation or drunkenness for 
deeds which they were in nowise guilty. 

The cause herein made apparent does of itself 
suggest its own remedy. Tension or resist- 
ance being plainly the cause producing all 
the complications, we have at once the true 
antidote in relaxation or non-resistance. It is 
the old, old story, ever being repeated, 
'^ cease to do evil and learn to do well." If 
this is thoroughly attended to sea-sickness 
will be impossible. 

If by any chance you become careless, and 
through neglect of practice the muscles are 
not properly trained, and sea-sickness steals 
upon you almost unobserved, you must stand 
up and relax your muscles until your feet 
seem to you like lumps of lead. This Avill 
restore conformity to gravity. Then walk 



44 SEA-SICKNESS. 

about as best you can with your clumps of 
feet, which of themselves will compel you to 
assume a loose, swaying motion. By this 
exercise, unity of force will be recalled under 
tue correlative principle, and you will find 
yourself master again. 

If your mind has failed to comprehend 
perfectly the full importance of its charge to 
hold the body in relaxation during slumber, 
and you find yourself awakened with nausea, 
you may be certain that j^our body has been 
resisting motion while you were in sleep. 
You must then relax your muscles to the 
utmost, and hold j^our body clearly away from 
contact with the woodwork of your berth. 
This will bring you into agreement with 
gravity, as you will then find that your body 
is lying very close to the bed, and will appear 
to you very heavy. If you desire to know 
the immense difi'erence in apparent weight 
between a body in tension or relaxation, only 
try the experiment of lifting a body from the 
floor in tension and in relaxation. That will 



CAUSE AND PREVENTION. 45 

convince you of what seems to be a foolish 
vagary, and will cause it to become a con- 
scious fact. The exercise which is to recall 
your muscles to the orderly unity may be 
performed by sharply clinching your fists 
and relaxing them in alternation. 

A careful investigation of the facts herein 
presented, and treated by your mind in its 
own independence, together with experiments 
upon your own person as you have the favor- 
able opportunity, cannot fail to impart that 
confidence of belief which will w^holly banish 
anxiety as to the effect of sea-going, while it 
is still in contemplation ; and will secure the 
undisturbed rule of your mind over your 
body while on the ocean, whether in storm or 
calm. 

It is an ancient axiom that the human body is 
a world in miniature, — a counterparted uni- 
verse, embracing all its elements, and subject 
to the same laws. The system we have been 
considering furnishes a striking illustration of 
this as being a matter of fact. The power 



46 SEA-SICKNESS. 

of gravitation forms the basis of order and 
stability for the universe ; it also performs 
the same oflSce for the human body. We 
have been accustomed to think of sea-sickness 
as the result of some specific or peculiar de- 
rangement of one, or, at most, a few organs 
of the system, as, for instance, the stomach 
or some single system of nerves, or some 
group of muscles, whereas we find that the 
wdiole universe of the body is thrown into 
complete chaos or disorder by our voluntary 
disregard of the laws to which it is subject. 



PROOF. 
'* To the law and the testimony." 

in. 

PROOFS OF THEORY DRAWN FROM 
OBSERVATION. 

If the foregoing rationale of sea-sickness 
is true, it must apply to the various condi- 
tions of all persons who go down to the sea 
in ships. These consist of two classes, — 
the sailor, and the traveller. 

We will first consider the sailor. His 
business lies on the sea, and he finds no 
hinderance in his labors from the evils which 
afflict the landsman on its ever-moving sur- 
face. 

From what cause, or whence comes his im- 
munity ? Wo must accord to him the same 
physical organization which is the natural 



48 SEA-SICKNESS. 

heritage of our race ; yet he appears to hold 
a charmed life. It is not explained by exam- 
ining his food, clothing, literature, or organ- 
ism, for they do not essentially differ from 
the landsman. He has a style and action of 
his own. How does this happen? He was 
born in the rural district of northern Ver- 
mont, on the hills of Ncav England, and 
shared his boyhood with his brothers and 
playmates, who still linger around the old 
home, and are similar in all respects to other 
landsmen. He has left his home in the high- 
lands, and taken his position upon the sea, at 
twelve years of age, and has followed this 
vocation for twenty years. He now stands 
before us a marked character. In speech, in 
walk, in every motion, he seems as if tied 
together loosely with strings. The articula- 
tions of his body seem to the casual observer 
to take him to a new order. He has a 
brother by his side who has not been on the 
sea at all. These brothers are now so widely 
different that an Agassiz would almost class 



PROOFS OF THEORY. 49 

them separately. And yet, if we examine 
closely, we find only a diff*erence in educa- 
tion; and this not from books or system, or 
even study in which the mind was the chief 
factor. It has come to him from the exigen- 
cies of his vocation. His motions have been 
compelled by the ocean, his voice by cul 
tivation in competition with the "sounding 
sea" and the boisterous winds. He is edu- 
cated for the sea, and he tenderly loves it as 
his home. All things he has found useful 
there he dearly prizes. He even exaggerates 
their value in very pride. They are viewed 
by him as accomplishments, and he displays 
them on the shore ; and they are never left 
behind by him wherever he goes. They do 
seem odd to the landsman, but they are an art. 
It is accordino; to strict science. Divested of 
its pride and exaggeration, it is the necessity 
for the ocean. It is what you have been told 
in part H. of this work. It is predominant 
relaxation formed into a perfect habit. The 
loose articulation of the sailor's body is due 



50 SEA-SICKNESS. 

solely to his habit of using his muscles in re- 
laxation. It is his pride and love which 
has superadded all the oddities which so 
mark and, as is said, mar the man's appear- 
ance when he becomes a sailor. All this is 
needless, as we can have all the sailor pos- 
sesses without such outer action. It is this 
habit which enables the sailor to perform his 
duties on every part of the ship, aloft or 
below, in storm or calm. It is the only thing 
which can enable any one, whether sailor or 
landsman, to adapt his body to the changing 
and unsteady ocean surface. 

The sailor has really been a walking school- 
master since time began to teach men the true 
requirements of the ocean ; but men with eyes 
have seen it not. It has been chiefly from 
this school I have received my education and 
my degree. In the long course of my in- 
struction I have been mulcted in large sums 
as tuition, and still larger sums in fines and 
penalties, which have been faithfully paid in 
the coin of sea-sickness in all its phases. 



PEOOFS OF THEORY. 51 

It was while lying snug and close in the 
corner beside the scupper-holes, and about as 
near dead as alive, that thought became ex- 
cited by seeing three sailors upon a yard at 
least forty feet from the deck, their feet resting 
upon a loose rope running along just be- 
low the yard, — and it was against this yard 
their bodies leaned. They were indifferent 
to my torture. They appeared happy, — 
they talked and laughed. One was mending 
a rent in a sail with a needle ; one was ty- 
ing and retying some ropes ; one in fixing 
some chafing arrangement ; and all this time 
they were swaying through the air by the roll 
of the ship, not less than seventy-five feet, 
and in constant motion. They did not notice 
it. They were as much at home there, to 
all appearance, as if on deck, while I was 
cribbed, and crowded into this dirty corner in 
order to hold myself together at all. Here 
is something truly worthy of envy, and I 
took a good dose, and it revived me. It 
stimulated thought, and musing over my 



52 SEA-SICKNESS. 

wrongs, it flashed upon me that those sailors 
have a method which I need and which I 
must have. But there 's the rub ; how am I 
to get it? As for science, that was far from 
me then. Gravity, relaxation, non-resist- 
ance stood in my mmd about similar to some 
Papuan dialect, so far as this difficulty was 
concerned. 

At length imitation came to my rescue. I 
next attempted to ascertain if this peculiar 
accomplishment of the sailor was an art com- 
ing within the scope of my powers to master 
by simple imitation. This formed the woof 
of many an hour of brain labor. At length 
the opportunity came, upon a wet, boisterous 
night at sea, to try the experiment. Sea- 
sickness was already looming up before me as 
inevitable, unless some friendly power should 
come to my rescue. In fear of the ever-pres- 
ent ridicule attendant upon any appearance 
of sea-sickness among passengers, I slipped, 
unobserved, into a dark passageway of the 
steamer, and there began my rehearsal of the 



PROOFS OF THEORY. 53 

motions of the sailor. I had a good concep- 
tion of the part, and my swaying body would, 
no doubt, have created fair applause if on the 
stage. I had no sooner come fairly to the 
true inwardness of the character I was per- 
sonating than, lo ! my internal organs ceased 
their riot, and sea-sickness disappeared. 

I was surprised. I could not at once real- 
ize the situation. I doubted my own senses. 
I had desired just such a thing, but I placed 
no real hope in any such result. I walked 
and turned and moved about, but not a sign 
of my late trouble appeared. Calm took the 
place of excitement, and thought assumed its 
work. I changed my motions to my usual 
gait, and only a few moments elapsed before 
ominous notice reached me of trouble in pro- 
gress, not to be mistaken or unheeded. Again 
and again I repeated these changes with like 
results. 

From that time (now many years ago) to 
the present the sea has had no power over 
me to cause me to be sick, during my waking 



54 SEA-SICKNESS. 

hours, unless at the command of my mind for 
the sake of experiment and confirmation. 

My experience by day after this was all 
that I could desire. I very soon found that 
the sailor exaggerated his motions, and that I 
could bring the desired result by no special 
or obtrusive action. But I still had trouble 
to some extent in my berth. Nausea would 
come upon me and I would be awakened by 
it. For a time I remedied this by rising and 
walking about with my new-found sailor-legs. 
At length I noticed that when I was awakened 
by nausea my body would be found pressing 
hard ao^ainst the woodwork of the berth. I 
fancied (but I did not then know) that this 
had something to do with my nausea. I ar- 
ranged my bed-clothing so that I could not 
roll against the sides or ends of my berth, 
and I found it made a difierence favor- 
able to my comfort. It was at this point 
that I obtained my first clew to the cause of 
sea-sickness ; still at the time I was uncon- 
scious of such a fact. I never wholly became 



PROOFS OF THEORY. 55 

free from nausea during sleep until I had fol- 
lowed out the clew, and the principles of 
resistance and non-resistance, or tension and 
relaxation, become tlie applied science of my 
ocean life and motion,— since I belong by con- 
stitution to the class of persons peculiarly 
liable to continued sea-sickness from begin- 
ning to the end of my travel upon the water. 

Encouraged by this measure of success, I 
continued my investigations with renewed 
diligence, not confining my observations to 
the water, but directing my thoughts to the 
land as well. 

Facts unfolded themselves to me on every 
hand, that muscular resistance was a force 
which, unless narrowly watched, could occa- 
sion our bodies serious inconvenience and 
trouble, and that knowledge concerning it 
was essential to have in aid of our comfort. 
For instance, I noticed that nausea is often 
occasioned by the motion of stage coaches 
and steam-cars and swings, and numerous 
other conditions, and all of them have their 



56 SEA-SICKNESS. 

rise in muscular resistance, the same as sea- 
sickness, and in like manner may be made 
to cease. 

In many directions I hunted this ground 
over, and much game was bagged, which, if 
described, would fill a chapter curious but 
unnecessary here, but which fortified my 
theory. 

When we turn from the sailor to the host 
of people who make only a chance acquaint- 
ance with the sea, we find so great a differ- 
ence in their manner of accepting its condi- 
tions as practically to divide them into two 
classes : those who are always free from 
sea-sickness, and those who invariably suffer 
from it. 

The first of these classes constitutes about 
ten per cent, of the whole number. If we 
observe them closely, we shall see that they 
are easy in disposition, quiet in temperament, 
and at once adapt themselves to the motions 
of the ship. Their motions are slow and 
rounded. 



PROOFS OF THEOKT. 57 

The noise of the machinery, the work of 
the ship, the hammering of the waves, make 
no impression on them. They sit and read, 
or move about and converse, with perfect 
indifference to the chano^e in their surround- 
ings. In walking we find that they instinct- 
ively place their feet wider apart than when 
on land ; and, if they come near any fixed 
object, they do not catch at it to steady them- 
selves. 

When they sit down it is not with des- 
perate energy, but as if sinking to a place 
of rest. In short, all their motions are very 
easy and moderate, and they conform them- 
selves to the general laws of non-resistance 
applicable to the ocean. From this class we 
may learn the same lesson taught by the 
sailor, since the comfort attained arises from 
unconscious harmony with the ocean motions. 
They yield naturally to the power Avhich im- 
poses new and strange conditions upon them ; 
and by relaxation of muscles become non- 
resistant, and thus safe from sea-sickness. 



58 SEA-SICKNESS. 

Probably about twenty-five per cent, of 
the remaining ninety per cent, of ocean 
travellers suffer comparatively little. They 
all have the incipient stages, sometimes 
lasting for thirty or more hours, and lose 
their appetite for a time before they yield to 
the government of non-resistance. It is in- 
teresting to watch in this class of passengers 
the changes which come over their motions 
in passing from resistance to non-resistance, 
remindinsr one of a dissolvin^: view. The 
discomforts of the first few hours gradually 
subside ; little by little they take on the 
movement of the ship, and sway as it sways* 
Precisely in the degree in which they accom- 
plish this, comfort is secured. 

Others from the ninety per cent, succumb 
entirely at the commencement of the voyage ; 
but, becoming in part non-resistant, are re- 
warded by freedom from illness in fine wea- 
ther, although a storm renews their suffer- 
ings. At least ten per cent, of those who 
seek the sea for health, business, or pleasure 



PROOFS OF THEORY. 59 

suffer much from the moment of embarka- 
tion to that of landing. Even the sight of 
the water from the wharf gives them a fore- 
taste of future misery. They are painfully 
sensitive to trifles, to which the mass of peo- 
ple are indifferent. The want of harmony in 
sounds, and daintiness in objects, rasps and 
frets. Their motions are angular, their steps 
uncertain ; they grasp convulsively at fixed 
objects, as they move about. Their whole 
effort is towards resistance, and they sufier a 
most grievous and dangerous penalty. 

Both the sailor and the traveller confirm 
the truth of the theory advanced, — that re- 
laxation of the muscles is the perfect and only 
prevention of sea-sickness, and the only 
remedy when it alreadj^ exists. 

That this is so, may be made still more 
plain by the following considerations : — 

There are three factors to be taken into ac- 
count in solving the problem of sea-sickness, 
— gravitation, the ocean, and the human body. 
The first two are unchangeable and irresisti- 



60 SEA-SICKNESS. 

ble ; but the human body has wonderful 
powers of adaptation to the influences which 
are brought to bear upon it. 

When these three factors are brought into 
close relationship, and antagonism arises be- 
tween them, the human body, being the only 
one capable of change, must adjust itself to 
the other powers to secure harmony. We 
have seen the method by which it may be 
be done through the intelligent use of man's 
bodily powers. Every sea-going vessel, with 
its burden of passengers and crew, illustrates 
all the phases of sea-sickness, or of exemp- 
tion from its sufferings, and shoAvs the rea- 
sons for both conditions. 

The reader ma}^ thus easily assure himself, 
both by his own experience and that of those 
around him, that the statements I have made 
are true. 

He will also find occasion to wonder that 
the thread of ignorance which has held the 
sea-traveller in thraldom for ages is so slen- 
der, and may be parted so easily. 



KELAXATION. 

" Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, 
Which we ascribe to heaven." 



IV. 

RELAXATION OF THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM 
CONSIDERED IN ITS GENERAL USES. 

A THOROUGH understanding of the princi- 
ples involved in relaxation of the muscular 
structure is of immense importance to all 
who seek relief from the exhaustion occa- 
sioned by an overtasked body or brain. 
They apply to all the methods by which en- 
tire change in such cases are usually sought. 

The perfect equestrian can spend day and 
night in the saddle. He obtains the exhila- 
ration of swift movement with so little 
fatigue as to have upon the system the effect 
of rest. To accomplish this, however, he 

61 



62 SEA-SICKNESS. 

must yield so absolutely to the movement of 
his horse as to justify the ancient fable of 
the centaur. 

In carriao^e-drivinsr it is the same. Ease 
is only obtained by so perfectly accepting 
the motions of the vehicle, as to become one 
with it. Even the friendly rocking-chair 
does not give its votaries the full measure of 
delight unless the occupant is obedient to 
this law. 

Precisely similar in its demand is the 
ocean travel ordered by the physician, in a 
large class of disorders ; and if with the pre- 
scription he would give the necessary instruc- 
tion respecting the method to be adopted in 
carrying it out, he would be rewarded v\ath al- 
most invariable success. As it is, the time and 
money expended often afford ver}^ inadequate 
results, — sometimes are lost in failure, — 
and again prove worse than useless. Only a 
small percentage of ocean health-seekers are 
improved to the full measure of expecta- 
tions. 



HELAXATION. 63 

Since sea-voyages are recommended by 
skilful physicians, after making a careful 
diagnosis of the patient's condition, it has 
been a mystery that such varied effects should 
have resulted, starting, as they do, under 
almost identical conditions. Our theory 
furnishes an explanation. 

When a physician recommends a sea-voy- 
age to his patient, he desires for him such a 
change in all the conditions of his life as 
shall have the effect of absolute repose. He 
takes into account freedom from the daily 
friction, from whatever cause it may have 
come ; an miaccustomed climate and diet ; a 
succession of new objects for the eye ; of new 
sounds for the ear ; of new interests for the 
mind. It would appear as if these must be 
all-powerful; yet they are far from prov- 
ing so. 

A single enemy often neutralizes their 
effects, and makes the physical discomforts of 
the passage more than a match for their salu- 
tary influence. 



64 SEA-SICKNESS. 

The application of our theory enables us 
to perceive why some persons who try the 
ocean for recuperation are immensely bene- 
fited, while others are not helped, and still 
others are absolutely injured. 

The explanation lies in the various degrees 
in which the different classes are afiected by 
sea-sickness. Such as yield easily to the 
ship's motions do so by relaxation ; and this 
affords perfect rest, and the power to appro- 
priate the healing influences offered them. 
The second class, being unable to do this, 
can obtain no rest, and, therefore, no relief. 
The third class are really injured, because 
they do not accept the conditions, but main- 
tain a steady fight on the ocean, and become 
exhausted by the conflict, and return to the 
land worse than when they left it. 

I trust the reader will not fail to see, that 
this principle of relaxation of the muscular 
system has a prominent place in the common 
occupations of life. It applies not alone to 
rest, but also to activity. It underlies 



\ 

EELAXATION. 65 

achievement in every department, when a 
true and steady hand, or an accurate brain 
is required. 

No man can become certain of hitting his 
mark with firearms, except he uses his mus- 
cles in relaxation. The most delicate lines 
of the engraver are alone possible by this use. 
The most perfect success of the surgeon in 
his exquisite tasks, is assured in the same 
way. The brain works more expeditiously 
and felicitously under this rule of relaxation. 

As a remedial agent it affords relief from 
derangements which baffle the physician's 
skill, and render the patient miserable. 

Undoubtedly, we make sad errors in the 
use of tension, under the mistaken idea that 
superabundant life is superabundant health 
to the body. 

Probably, in eight cases out of ten, ex- 
cessive use of tension is the true mechanical 
cause of insanity. 

If we were not compelled by sleep to cease 
the use of tension, as the commander of our 



66 SEA-SICKNESS. 

body, we should all become insane. What 
we commonly characterize as a level head, 
means much more than a vulgarism. It is 
one who holds his body in equilibrium as to 
tension and relaxation. It holds in the ex- 
pression a delicate truth. Please look upon a 
healthy body in slumber, and see the long, slow, 
and steady respiration. This is but an elo- 
quent tribute to relaxation as the commander 
which induces this pleasing state upon us. 

It does not detract from the dignity of our 
bodies to call them machines or engines, 
which they so perfectly similate. Life is the 
motive power, tension the throttle-valve. 
The nerves are the steam-pipes leading to 
the cylinder. The muscles are the machinery 
of motion. The supply of life is unlimited. 
We have the control of the throttle-valve. 
We may run at twenty or eighty miles an 
hour. The latter rate of speed brings mo- 
mentary danger and chances that the engine 
will jump the track, and then comes a crash, 
a wreck ! In our bodies this is called in-^ 



RELAXATION. 67 

sanity. On the railroad we call it an acci- 
dent. It should be called neither, as it 
should not occur at all. 

Not the least among the uses of the ocean 
is its oflSce of acting as nature's own alembic 
in rectifying the air of our globe, — the vast 
space which may seem to the thoughtless as a 
dreary waste and loss, and of no use. But 
these apparently silent solitudes are far from 
being in idleness in* the world's great econ- 
omy. The vital aliment which sustains life 
requires just these conditions. It is there 
where the essential element for man's very 
existence on this planet is made pure, and 
free from the contamination, that has be- 
come amalgamated with it, while pass- 
ing over the land. On the ocean, decay 
is not contributing elements of pollution. 
Offensive odors, so plentiful in and around 
our large cities, do not there exist. Thus it 
is that the ocean becomes a healino; fountain 
of living waters, suited for the health-wrecked 
landsman, where he may repair his damages 



68 SEA-SICKNESS. 

with some degree of hope. The supply of 
this health-giving pabulum is boundless and 
free upon the ocean, but not elsewhere. 
Unlimited wealth ^is powerless to command 
equal conditions upon the land. The ele- 
ment of danger which formerly existed is no 
more to be feared. 

The frail human plants which abide in the 
greenhouse temperature, and vitiated air of 
their gilded palaces in the great cities, are 
but poorly fitted as the Adams and Eves of 
a continuous, progressive race. They per- 
haps better simulate blossoms cut in alabaster. 
Yet these may hope, with good reason, that 
contact with the ocean may bring the ruddy 
glow of health, and command vigor, vivacity, 
and a richer endowment of physical life. 
There is no lack or stint in the supply. The 
physician is perfectly conscious of all this. 
He has vainly desired to make it available to 
his fading patients ; but the lion of sea- 
sickness has ever stood in the way, and 
quenched his generous aspirations. ' 



RELAXATION. 69 

In attempting to investigate the cause of 
sea-sickness, I presently learned the impor- 
tance of relaxation as one of the factors, but 
before I could make use of it intelligently I 
was obliged to ascertain its nature, power, 
and effect. My field for this examination 
was necessarily my own experience. I found 
that when I was tired, oppressed, and ner- 
vous, sleep could not be coaxed to my relief 
for hours. My mind, in spite of my will, 
would work on with the speed of lightning. 
It would repeat the events of the day with 
painful detail, or the books I had been read- 
ing with verbal accuracy, or the trains of 
thought with which I had been occupied in 
an unbroken and endless series. But when 
I commenced my experiments with muscular 
relaxation this riot in my mind at once 
ceased, and all became calm and restful. I 
could fall asleep almost at my will. 

Nor is this control of the muscles through 
the ascendancy of the mind difficult of at- 
tainment. On the contrary, it is quickly and 



70 SEA-SICKNESS. 

easily achieved, nothing being needed but a 
clear perception of the process. By it, when 
used on shipboard, perfect rest may be 
obtained by all Avho desire it, and days of 
health-promoting enjoyment, may be fol- 
lowed by refreshing slumbers, sweet in itself, 
and efficacious in its preparation for joys 
and duties to come. 



BIKECTIONS. 

These do but scotch the snake, 
They do not kill it." 



V. 

HINTS TO BEGINNERS IN OCEAN TRAVEL. 

If the system I have endeavored to explain 
has been fully mastered in practice as well as 
theory, no nausea will be felt by the most 
delicate ocean traveller. 

If, however, in consequence of an idea that 
a knowledge of its principles only is suf- 
ficient until the moment of need, or from a 
lack of belief in its efficacy, or the pressure 
of many duties, it has been postponed, and 
but imperfectly understood and accepted, 
great care will be required to ward oif an 
attack of sea-sickness until time shall have 
been gained in which to make up the defi- 
ciency. 

71 



72 SEA-SICKNESS. 

Except relaxation of the muscular system, 
nothing is so productive of good as ease 
of body and tranquillity of mind. To 
secure this, business arrangements should 
be completed and banished from the mind as 
subjects for care or as a disturbing agency. 

When going on shipboard, and for a time 
previous, no change in diet should be made 
as to quality or quantity. It is a mistake to 
alter or much interfere with any habit we 
have, be they good or bad, on the eve of a 
voyage, as it disquiets the body and unfits it 
for new conditions. 

It is desirable to go on board early enough 
to arrange the state-room, which should have 
been carefully chosen, so as to secure the 
most quiet and the least motion ; also to 
learn all the ship's peculiarities, and arrange- 
ments which can affect the comfort of the 
voyage, before the vessel leaves the wharf. 
Extra bedding should also be secured. 

The hurry of last moments, the worry over 
articles left behind or mislaid, the regrets of 



DIRECTIONS. 73 

leave-taking, the despondent feeling of help- 
lessness, caused by the unaccustomed and 
strange surroundings, and rendered more 
acute by a too active imagination picturing 
future inconveniences and dangers. Every- 
thing, indeed, which disturbs the mind invites 
illness and makes it more intense. On land, 
all this results in headache, often almost 
unendurable. The sea does not furnish ex- 
emption from the penalty imposed for thus 
overstraining the system, but it is quite 
liable to add to it nausea besides. 

Warm clothing, with extra wraps for deck 
exercise, are imperative. With them even an 
invalid can enjoy the fresh air and a touch of 
the salt spray. 

A simple diet promotes digestion, and is 
conducive to sleep on land ; it is still more so 
on the sea. Eich sauces and gravies, 
puddings heavy with fruit, pastries flaky 
with lard, too great variety of dishes, and an 
unreasonable amount consumed, are fatal to 
comfort anywhere. 



74 SEA-SICKNESS. 

Wisdom dictates a degree of self-denial at 
all times, and makes speedy returns for it in 
augmented comfort ; especially is this true in 
a sea-voyage. 

At night the bed-clothes are to be so 
arranged and tucked in, that the body will 
not be inclined to roll and rest ao'ainst the 
woodwork fixtures, sides or ends of the 
berth, and thus acquire a basis for the body 
to make resistance during its slumber. 

Before risins^ in the mornins^ some coarse 
bread, or cakes made from graham or oat- 
meal w^hich Avill require vigor in masti- 
cation, together with a little milk or tea, 
taken slowly, will be appreciated by the 
stomach. 

Else leisurely — first raise the head, rest- 
ing it on the hand and elbow. If your head 
feels at all confused you are to remain just as 
you are a little while, and this sensation will 
disappear ; then follow up the movement in a 
quiet manner. Do not by any means make 
u^e of any violent or even quick motions in 



DIRECTIONS. 75 

making your toilet, as such might cause 
serious complications and trouble. 

These directions, mtended only for begin- 
ners in ocean travel, may appear trivial ; but 
nothing is really so which adds to, or detracts 
from one's powers for usefulness or enjoy- 
ment. They are here given in the hope that 
by their successful observance strength will 
be obtained to put in practice the principles 
presented in this work. These directions 
alone must, in the nature of things, be in- 
adequate to furnish you the security you seek. 
There you may find by diligent study of 
other parts of this work, where will appear 
abundant reasons why this is so, in the broad 
and undeniable fact, that the ocean is an 
element which is under the. strict dominion 
and imperious rule of non-resistance ; and it 
will be folly for any one to expect immunity 
from suffering, except through obedience of 
body and mind to its requirements. 



HABIT. 
** How use doth breed a habit in a man." 

VI. 

HABIT ILLUSTRATED. 

In the gradual development of mind and 
body, which changes the child into the man, 
and decides his character and capacity, 
habit is so important an element that it is 
entitled to some consideration so far as it 
aflfects our subject. 

Essentially, habit is the method of repeti- 
tion by which a uniform rule of action, either 
mental or physical, is established. An action 
which may be at first irksome or even pain- 
ful, will, if persisted in, at length become 
involuntary. 

A habit once formed becomes the property 
of the mind ; and though not in constant use 

76' 



HABIT. 77 

is never quite lost, but may be i-ecalled when 
needed. The ai^irrei^ate of such habits forms 
the sum of the man's effective capacity for 
the performance of his various and manifold 
duties in life. They are his drilled and 
efficient troops which are his reliance for 
immediate eno;a<>:ement. 

A simple fact will illustrate this point. 
Suppose that in the study of music I have 
practised fifty separate tunes until I have 
mastered their performance, and committed 
them to memory. As I have acquired these 
airs I have dismissed them, one by one, from 
the present attention of my mind, and the 
power to perform them has become a passive 
habit. If now, I go to the piano and desire 
to play ^^ Sweet Home," the notes of that 
air alone, of all the fifty which I have learned, 
recur to my mind, and my fingers readily 
strike the appropriate keys. The passive 
habit is thus called into activitj^ and if it 
were formed originally under diligent prac- 
tice, the effort now to reproduce it, even after 



78 SEA-SICKNESS. 

many years of passivity, is comparatively 
easy. It is the same with muscular opera- 
tions of all kinds, and is substantially the 
ruling element in our life-work, whatever that 
may be. If the habit be but indifferently 
formed by clumsy or heedless practice, and 
it falls into disuse, it may be recalled with 
more or less difficulty. In this respect, it is 
similar to any other education, — as indeed, it 
is nothing but education, — and, therefore, 
subject to like rules for acquisition. 

In the formation of a habit, the mind must 
first comprehend what is required to be done, 
and then the muscles must be trained to 
carry out its directions. In the illustration 
above, the notes of ^^ Sweet Home " were 
easily read and understood ; but in reducing 
them to practice, my untrained muscles, like 
those of a child on first essaying to walk, 
refuse to obey the mind's directions. It was 
a tedious and difficult task, which could 
only be accomplished by persistent effort. 
Little by little the muscles learned their 



HABIT. 79 

duty under the careful guidance of the mind, 
until the keys were touched with skill, and 
the arduous task was changed to a pleasure. 

It is upon the power of habit to control 
the muscular action of the body that we must 
place our reliance to effect the prevention of 
sea-sickness. This is caused, as stated else- 
where in this work, by the use of land habits 
of motion upon the water. We have also 
seen that those persons who are constantly 
upon the ocean form a habit, which is proper 
there and which saves them from suffering ; 
while those who are but partially accustomed 
to the sea are usually sick from a lack of the 
proper habits. 

It would be very easy to learn the right 
method if the actions to be performed were 
altogether new. But, unfortunately, the task 
required is to do the same things which have 
been done on the land in a different way ; or, 
in other words, change the habit of a life- 
time. This statement seems to imply a 
serious difficulty, and would almost appear 



80 SEA-SICKNESS. 

hopeless. Yet it is really simple, though 
requiring at first diligent attention. The 
motions for the land and sea are precisely the 
same, except that they are made by a diflferent 
application of the same power, the muscles 
being used in relaxation instead of tension. 
If we were compelled to watch each separate 
motion in order to cause it to be non-resist- 
ant, the labor would be very great. But we 
have only to comprehend mentally the gen- 
eral principle of loose, swaying motions, 
which are the product of relaxation, when 
the whole government of our bodies will 
become changed for the sea, and we can soon 
compel our muscles to make this their habit 
of action. I do not, in laying down this 
rule, ignore the fact that all motion of the 
body is the product of action and reaction of 
tension and relaxation ; but preponderance 
may be given to the one or the other of these 
opposites at the option of the mind. If ten- 
sion be the desire, the mind imposes the im- 
pulse upon the body, and the whole body at 



HABIT. 81 

once becomes firm and elastic, and the feet 
will appear to rest but lightly upon the floor. 
On the other hand, if relaxation be the need, 
the impulse is given, and all inclines to a 
pliant and placid state of body. The feet 
now feel exceedingly heavy. They seem 
almost to stick to the floor, and we are 
obliged to sway our bodies from side to side, 
that the feet may move forward. If we did 
not sway our bodies, we could not move for- 
ward except by dragging our feet along the 
floor, when we make the process up to the 
maximum of relaxation. 

We thus see that by the practice of these 
two forms of motion until they yield due 
obedience to orders, we may fit ourselves in 
the privacy of our homes to travel with com- 
fort upon the ocean ; and when habit is once 
enlisted in behalf of our new departure, it 
will be as great an assistance as it was a 
hinderance while opposed to us. When by 
practice we can easily give preponderance to 
relaxation, all our motions will come into 



82 SEA-SICKNESS. 

harmonj^ with the requirements of the ocean, 
and habit will seal them as its own, by mak- 
ing them involuntary. Even if comparatively 
uninstructed as to the general principles of 
the muscular action, we need have no confu- 
sion or fear, as we have always at hand an 
unfailing test as to the quality of our motions 
in the lightness or heaviness of our feet. 
This will be a sure guide for correct practice, 
or actual service. 

It may appear absurd to some of my 
readers to say that one can make his feet 
heavy or light at his pleasure. They may 
ask, is not the sum of man's avoirdupois all 
centred in his feet, if he be standinsr? It is 
so ; but there may be effects produced by the 
agency of gravity which will so modify this 
fact as to cause it to appear entirely the 
opposite. If I place the body of my car- 
riage directly upon the axle, and ride in it" 
. over rough roads, the jar will be intolerable ; 
but if I place a spring between the axle and 
the body, I am conveyed in comfort. I have 



HABIT. 83 

not altered the avoirdupois of the vehicle ; I 
have made no change in gravity, but I have 
introduced a mechanical power which has 
subdivided the shocks into minute atoms, 
each one being so small that I do not heed it ; 
and I say in common phrase that the shocks 
are removed by the spring, when in fact it is 
only subdivided, but still remaining. So in 
speaking of light or heavy feet, I do not 
mean that the weight is increased or di- 
minished, but that the method of the pressure 
is utterly changed by the manner of manipu- 
lation of the muscular power, and the effect 
is as obvious as that of the carriage. 



cautio:Ni. 

** Sleep, oh, gentle sleep, 
Nature's soft nurse, how have I frighted thee, 
That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down, 
And steep my senses in forgetfulness." 



vn. 

A WORD OF CAUTION. 

For the system presented in the foregoing 
pages I am in nowise responsible. I have 
only pointed out natural laws, and made 
known their application ; I have invented 
nothing. It will, doubtless, appear extremely 
simple, and such indeed is it in theory. 
The reader, however, will commit a grave, 
if not a fatal error, if he believes himself 
master of it without the practice necessary to 
render it available to him. 

I have spoken of practice as an element in 
connection with this system of supreme im- 
portance. Practice in this, as in all action, 

84 



A WORD OF CAUTION. 85 

is the true parent of habit, and habit is the 
mode by which the body attains perfect mo- 
tions. By this method the body becomes a 
master=workman in whatever it does. Any 
new thing which requires an exercise of mus- 
cuhxr power, needs in some degree to go 
through the performance of learning a trade. 
A Lord Chesterfield, or a Louis XIV., did 
not become the masters of bodily motion ex- 
cept by diligent and persistent practice in all 
the trivial details. All delicate trades re- 
quiring skill must come to perfection by the 
same universal rule. Very few sailors were 
born such. They have come to their present 
perfection through practice alone, not by the 
aid of mind, but the same as a child learns 
his motions. This admits of radical change 
in the method of learning this trade, which 
is that the mind shall take charo-e of the 
body in this respect, and cause it to do its 
bidding, and thus by the use of intelligent 
direction make an open and direct path to the 
end we seek, — which is that of using our 



86 SEA-SICKNESS. 

muscles the same as the accomplished sailor 
does. This will be seen, by what has been 
said in previous pages, to be practical and 
easily within the compass of every one's 
powers. Of course, all will not learn with 
equal facility. Any physician who has 
studied the human body thoroughly will be 
able at once to cause his muscles to obey him, 
and will become a natural sailor at will. But 
his facility for this came through the practice 
of his mind upon the nature and powers of 
his muscular organization. 

The subject we are considering involves 
the principles of muscular administration for 
two separate and distinct conditions. One is 
for the land, — and this is conducted upon the 
principle of force, or coercion, or still better 
by resistance, — the other is for the ocean, 
and is based upon the opposite principle from 
that of the land, which is non-resistance. 

That for the land we all understand from 
our childhood; that for the ocean has been 
in use for all past time, but its principles 



A WORD OF CAUTION. 87 

have been practically unknown among men, 
and is so to this day. 

The executive principle alone permissible 
upon the ocean is relaxation of the muscular 
powers ; or, in other words, non-resistance 
must become the natural state of the body 
during its ocean sojourn. 

This is to be brought about by the use of 
the same muscles which have been educated 
upon the land to the habits of resistance. 

It will now be seen that the apparent sim- 
plicity, which seemed so complacent, has 
given place to a problem which requires care- 
ful attention. 

Our muscles are required to learn a new 
trade. They must do their work in an unac- 
customed manner, but they are apt scholars. 
If the mind, which is their natural tutor, sees 
clearly what is required, this problem will be 
quickly solved. It will set the muscles to 
their lesson of practice, and will watch them 
and hear recitations with the most assiduous 
care ; and it will not allow them to graduate 



88 SEA-SICKNESS. 

until they can pass its strictest ordeal of ex- 
amination, to the end that the mind may be 
perfectly satisfied that it can rely upon them 
alone in any emergency. 

This accomplished, the man is fitted for 
the wildest fury of any ocean; nor is he 
absolutely secure until this is done. 

The use of this repeated exercise is, first, 
that the muscles be made to do a new thing 
in an easy and natural way, and, secondly, 
that the mind may become convinced of their 
ability to obey its orders, and thus freed from 
all doubts or care concernino; them. The 
value of practice consists greatly in its being 
an antidote to fear or any of its numerous 
family, all of which have much to do with the 
comfort and health of the body while upon 
the ocean. 

A familiar illustration will show something 
of the method by wdiich fear acts upon the 
body. Suppose a plank raised six inches above 
the floor ; I can walk or run across it with 
the same ease as if it were on the floor. 



A WORD OF CAUTION. 89 

Place it now fifteen feet above the floor, and I 
cannot now cross without positive danger. 
Fear will demoralize my muscles and render 
them unreliable, and they become useless to 
me. But if the plank is raised two feet, and 
I cross it slowly and quietly, until I become 
accustomed to that height, and then the plank 
is raised four feet and I repeat the process, it 
may be thus raised to a great height without 
causin<y dizziness in crossino^ it. 

Practice assures the mind and renders it 
confident by removing fear from it. 

If at any time during my performance upon 
the plank it had shown signs of weakness, or 
inability to convey me safely, my mind would 
have exercised caution, and this might have 
taken the radical form, which is fear. In the 
form of caution I should have stopped and 
examined the plank and its foundations, and 
seen that all was secure. In the form of fear, 
(which is only intensified caution,) I should 
have become anxious, and jorobably dizzy, 
and perhaps have fallen. It is the prov- 



90 SEA-SICKNESS. 

ince of the mind to guard the body from ac- 
cident and harm ; and the whole family of 
fear are engaged in this particular duty. The 
sane mind does not allow its body to visit 
doubtful positions without providing some 
member from the ftimily of fear as its con- 
stant attendant while eno-ao-ed in such enter- 
prise. Fears are qualities and conclusions of 
the mind ordained for the protection of the 
body, and therefore strictly legitimate. They 
are always on duty in some degree during 
wakefulness, and, under certain conditions, 
also in sleep. 

Ordinarily, men can hardly be said to sleep 
perfectly. That implies entire relaxation of 
the voluntary muscles. Usually there is left 
on the mind some form of responsibility 
when passing into slumber; this requires a 
basis in the nerves and muscles, and it signi- 
fies continued care and direction over them 
by the mind. If this charge is unimportant, 
sleep is comparatively profound. If the 
charges are many and important, sleep will 



A WORD OF CAUTIOK. 91 

become less and less perfect as their numbers 
increase, until it is rendered unrefreshing. 

We are all, more or less, acquainted with 
this fact : for instance, if we charge our 
mind with the necessity for awaking at four 
A.M. for an early train, when our usual hour 
is seven a.m., we shall usually find that our 
mind has proved an excellent time-keeper dur- 
ing our slumber. But this has only been 
accomplished at a certain expense to our 
nervous and muscular system. If we form 
such style of awaking into a regular habit, 
there will be no apparent loss of power to 
continue such habit, which will be done with- 
out any conscious charge upon the mind. 
Thus do we form automatic habits. 

The more nearly we make the relaxed con- 
dition of our bodies habitifal, during our 
wakefulness upon the ocean, the more per- 
fectly will our mind be able to take care 
of our bodies in sleep ; and the more 
perfect our sleep is, the more abundant 
will be the recuperating influence upon our 



92 SEA-SICKNESS. 

physical organs, and general health m all 
respects. 

No one should be in the least discouraged 
if he fail in his first attempt in the use of this 
system. Let such one merely redouble his 
diligence in the practice of sea-motions, and 
they will become as fixed as the old. 

Possibly some of my readers may think 
themselves unable to practise this relaxation 
of their muscles, but the absurdity of this 
idea may be easily shown. We may see upon 
any vessel men who are passing from sea- 
sickness to a state of comfort. We observe 
that this is done by changing muscular ten- 
sion to relaxation. They do this uncon- 
sciously, having never been instructed in the 
matter ; yet the process is perfectly accom- 
plished. Can you plead inability to perform 
consciously, and wdth the knowledge of its 
necessity, that which is done unconsciously by 
those who are unacquainted with this science ? 

A single paragraph on a previous page 
speaks of medicine as a disturbing power, 



A WORD OF CAUTION. 93 

which has no place in sea-sickness, except to 
injure. I would not change that direction in 
the least. I am quite aware of the strong 
desire of some people to take much medi- 
cine, whether there be reason or no reason. 
If there be any good reason for using it I 
have not the least objection in general dis- 
ease ; but in sea-sickness there is no disease. 
The victim's organs are healthy. No com- 
pounds from drugs can do other than injure 
him ! The sea-sick man needs knowledge ; 
that alone is his requirement. There are 
recommendations extant to use drugs which 
stupefy the body. This is insane treatment. 
The effect of such medicines is to deprive the 
patient of a portion of his life to the extent 
of barely saving some life at the end of the 
voyage. When such patient lands he may 
bid farewell to comfort, as his body will be 
but a jingling mass of discords. 

Eelaxation has the pleasing power to 
reduce superabundant inflow of life to the 
fullest extent desirable, and this works with- 



94 SEA-SICKNESS. 

out drugs, and in true accord with the infinite 
laws which rule in the body. You can make 
no mistake in this, as it violates no principle 
in our organism by which we live ; but more 
than this, it is the very source of health and 
true comfort to the body. If you fail to 
understand the full import of these instruc- 
tions, you must call upon your physician. 
It is his profession to know all these things. 
He has acquired it by technical and method- 
ical study of the phenomena of the human 
body. For this service you may well afford 
to reward him liberally, if you are unable 
otherwise to understand your duty. The 
physician has acted honestly by you in this 
matter in the past. He has had no theory on 
which he could rely with confidence, and he 
has said so in all his books. You have known 
this to be so ; the consequence has followed 
that the physician has had little to do with 
this grievous difficulty. He will henceforth 
be able to supply your needs. Sea-sickness 
must ever remain an inexorable condition 



A WORD OF CAUTION. 95 

with such as continue in ignorance of their 
duty. Natural laws will not change. 

The physician is the natural storehouse for 
any information concerning the human body. 
He knows exactly how to govern his own 
muscles ; he can inform j^ou if the necessity 
arises. But this understanding you must have, 
however you may obtain it, or you need not 
expect immunity from suffering. 

As to the discover}^ of this knowledge, a 
word upon it may interest you. The single 
word '^ imitation," so innocent of any signifi- 
cance at the time, ultimately proved the key 
to the whole position of sea-sickness. It gave 
me control, but not the knowledge. This 
control enabled me to seek out the knowledge 
by careful study of effects. I could say to 
sea-sickness, ^^So far you may come upon me ; 
but if you pass such or such bounds I can 
check you by the use of the sailor's art." I 
was thus able to get true reports of the pre- 
cise doings in my body. Such a thing was 
wholly impossible without this control. The 



96 SEA-SICKNESS. 

victim in ordiuary is unable to give correct 
statements of his sensations. He is hors de 
combat. The disorder is not stationary a 
moment ; it is progressive. The whole feel- 
ings are liable to utterly change in a few 
moments. A large army in actual battle 
represents the body in a state of sea-sickness 
better than anything I can name. One group 
of muscles after another fall out of line, or 
are made prisoners, so that the mind loses 
its power of command over them. This con- 
trol, which imitation of the sailor gave me, 
enabled me to call a rest in which I could 
survey the field and calculate. 

As I look back over the ground, I am 
unable to see how sea-sickness could ever have 
been made clear, unless control was first given, 
so that the observer could study it from his 
own sensations. The eflects do not point to 
the cause ; that is invisible and intangible, and 
apart from the body. Sensations do not show 
it to us. These were facts to be found out. 
It looks easy enough now, but it was mid- 



A WORD OF CAUTION. 97 

night then. The simple control did not give 
me so much as a tallow-dip of light upon the 
cause of sea-sickness, but it made the ground 
secure to stand upon, — and only that. The 
person who by nature is exempt from sea- 
sickness, could not arrive at true conclusions 
concerning it by any study within his power. 
What he would see at one moment would 
wholly change the next. Sea-sickness has no 
fixed methods which disclose themselves by 
uniform symptoms. It does not organize 
itself to any specific mode of action. Its 
demonstrations are fickle, changeable, and 
inconsistent with order. 

A modern house is furnished with all 
articles of virtu and elegance, spread out upon 
mantels and tables, and bestowed in tempting 
display in its rooms. If we should tip this 
house half-way over to one side, and then 
creep into the rooms, we should surely find a 
scene of disorder. We could form no 
opinion how that scene would appear if we 
tipped the house a few feet more. K we 



98 SEA-SIGKNESS. 

should tip the . house over to the opposite 
angle we should have confusion confounded. 
But this house, as an illustration of a man's 
body in sea-sickness, cannot be said to exag- 
gerate that condition. When studying the 
effects of sea-sickness in the human body 
one finds all things there to conspire in mis- 
leading him. His hopes will be aroused at 
times almost to a certainty, and the next 
instant they will be dashed into total dark- 
ness. Such are some of the conditions which 
have met the observer in his search after this 
ignis fatuus oi the ages, and have effectually 
baffled him and delaved this knowledo:e. 

The author has insisted much upon the 
necessity of such practice as he has described. 
He is still more anxious to caution the reader 
against that spirit of unbelief which would 
close the mind to evidence on this subject. 
After six thousand years of progress the 
power of falsehood is still wonderfully strong. 
It intrenches itself in the mind, and through 
the will throws up an effectual barrier to the 



A WORD OF CAUTION. 99 

entrance of knowledge. Men still " love 
darkness rather than light," to their own dis- 
comfort and loss. Ignorance, however, on 
this, as on all other subjects, is doomed to 
pass away. Every day some shadow vanishes 
from the intellect, giving place to the light of 
truth. A scientific knowledge of the material 
universe is constantly increasing, and the 
words of the old Latin poet are being veri- 
fied : — 

^' Happy the 7nan, who studying nature's laws^ 
Through known effects^ can trace the secret 
cause.^^ 



THE STORM. 

" Our doubts are traitors, 
And make us lose the good we oft might win, 
By fearing to attempt." 



vin. 

STORM LESSON. 

The empire of mind over matter has been 
actively asserting itself and extending its 
domain over new provinces, with remarkable 
energy for the last hundred years. Each 
new^ acquirement smooths the way for further 
conquest. Some departments of the ocean 
have been studied with great care and as- 
siduity for long periods of time. Great dis- 
coveries have been made as to its physical 
geography; and, so flir as navigation is 
concerned, the time has at length arrived 
when the ocean has become one vast high- 
way, as safe to the traveller as an equal 
distance upon the land. 

100 



STORM LESSON. 101 

In earlier periods all good roadways on 
the land were turnpikes, barred by toll-gates ; 
such obstructions have now mainly disap- 
peared. The toll-gate of sea-sickness has 
continued to exist on the ocean, but is now 
to be removed, and a free pathway opened. 
This is to be accomplished by the conquest of 
mind over the opposing forces of matter. 
This must be legitimately done. There must 
be no attempt to subject the mind to will- 
powder or psychological influence, or any trick 
of logic, as anything of this kind Tvould be 
swept away by the first blast of a storm. The 
purpose of this work is to set forth facts as a 
foundation for the mind to rest upon, and 
thus establish the man in the command of his 
own body, so that there may be no terrors to 
dread from sea-sickness, in storm or calm, 
during his ocean sojourn. 

I have in general only spoken of ordinary 
experiences at sea. It is very difficult for 
the landsman to form any clear idea of w^hat 
he will meet as he faces a storm for the first 



102 SEA-SICKNESS* 

time, yet he should attempt to do so in order 
that he may not be surprised and over- 
powered. 

The task of describing the wild fury and 
turmoil of a storm at sea is one to which I am 
wholly unequal, although the scene is per- 
fectly familiar to me. Words are inadequate 
to picture the ocean under the power of a 
fierce wind, with the ship tossing violently 
on its surface. The land affords no similar 
scene from which to draw comparisons, 
although the same omnipotent power is felt 
in the fires of the volcano, the shock of the 
earthquake, and the resistless blast of the 
tornado. 

The storm at sea is a wholly new ex- 
perience to the landsman. Every move- 
ment of the ship is strange. Every sound 
conveys to him a sensation of danger ; and it 
is against this terror that the mind needs to 
be fortified with knowledge, in order to rise 
above the terrible din and turmoil into the 
security of a clear confidence. 



STOSM LESSOK. 103 

We find as the ship enters a storm-circuit 
on the ocean that everything loose upon the 
* ship assumes wings ; hence all movable objects 
are made fast, or else they will be thrown 
from side to side with such violence as to 
destroy them, and unless we are able to 
assume the limp condition of a bag of meal, 
our bodies will be treated with no more 
respect than any other movable. If a plate 
or tumbler is left upon the table we shall 
hear it crash against the sides of the room, a 
mass of fragments. If we rise from a chair 
which is not secured to the floor we do not 
find it in its place the next moment, but may 
seek it at the side of the cabin, minus a leg, 
perhaps. If we attempt to go on deck, we 
are forbidden so to do unless a life-line is 
made fast to our bodies and then fastened to 
the ship, that we may not be washed over- 
board. Thus equipped, we go on deck, where 
all things are firmly lashed. The deck itself 
is a pool of water. The air is filled with fine 
salt spray, which penetrates our eyes, causing 



104 SEA-SICKNESS. 

them to smart. We are almost overpowered 
by the strange sounds, which are all new to 
us. The officers are obliged to give orders 
through trumpets, which sound discordantly to 
our ears. The standing rigging of ropes gives 
forth tones on the seolian principle, but 
altoorether unlike anythino: of the kind on 
land. Now it is a sudden shriek dying away 
into a plaintive wail, to be caught up again 
with another cry of agony that fairly beggars 
description. Other noises meet our ears 
from the ship, indicating the strain on all its 
structure. We feel the deep shudder which 
runs throu2:h the Avhole fabric of the vessel as 
she strikes ao;ainst the almost vertical walls 
of a roller wave, pressed forward by the 
wind until it has become too ponderous and 
must break. The shock sends a mass of 
water high in air, and it covers the deck like 
a vast mantle. Presently we see (if we see 
at all) a big roller, higher than the bulwarks ; 
and now if the ship is in the riglit position as 
to the wave, a great mass of water will slide 



STORM LESSON. 105 

from the top of it to the vessel's deck in a 
solid body like a section from Niagara Falls. 
We shall realize the value of the life-line, 
as we have a mighty river on deck, which 
will roll this and that way until it escapes 
through some ill-fastened door below, or 
through the scuppers. The noises on a ship 
while undergoing the ordeal of a storm are 
fearful, and to the inexperienced seem pande- 
moniac. Aside from the sharp whistling of 
the rio'O'ino; noted above, we have the most 
weird and unearthly sound imaginable, — 
now a crash, anon a groan, a tremor, a stag- 
ger, a monster sledge-hammer stroke upon 
the ship which is felt in every timber, and 
a settling downward as if the ship were 
bound straightway to the bottom. In- 
deed, it is quite impossible to name and 
characterize the variety in this carnival of 
strano'e siirhts and sounds which are forced 
upon the senses of the preternaturally ob- 
servant landsman, and which fill him with 
dismay. 



106 SEA-SICKNESS. 

Without correct knowledsre it is not strano^e 
that he is overcome, as fear is lurking behind 
every unexplained sound or movement. He 
has no intelligent reason for reposing 
confidence in the stability of the vessel. He 
does not reflect that storms have always 
existed, and that the genius and experience 
of man have so contrived this wonderfully- 
constructed vessel as to provide against 
dano'er from the sources he now contem- 
plates, and have rendered the fabric safe from 
any real harm. He does not observe that the 
officers and sailors are calm, and take all this 
riot as a very commonplace matter. He 
does not reason that these same officers and 
sailors have accurate knowledge of the ship 
and its powers, and that their lives are as 
sweet to them as his is to himself. He does 
not note that both the officers and sailors 
move about at will, and stand on any incline 
of the deck with equal facility. He does not 
see that their feet have a peculiar affinity for 
the floor, somewhat like a fly upon the wall, 



STORM LESSON. 107 

as if stuck there at their option. His mind 
is only open to his own personal concerns, 
and he is so far under the influence of fear as 
to keep what little reason or knowledge he 
may have had in the background, and a 
paralysis of his powers gradually steals over 
him. 

It must be evident to any one that under 
the conditions here described, and which Avill 
be recognized as only modestly stated by 
any who are conversant with the ocean, that 
the only thing in Avhich the sailor and the 
landsman differ is in the degree of knowledge 
they possess ; both must be physically alike. 
This study does disclose an anomaly — a 
curious fact — which is that tlie sailor is 
enabled to act upon a truth which he does 
not comprehend. His motions are scien- 
tifically correct, and yet they are produced 
without the use of his reason. It is this 
intuitive perception on the part of the sailor 
of the quality of motion required of him for 
the ocean, that has enabled him to make use 



108 SEA-SICKNESS, 

of it as a highway during all the ages that 
are past. 

It is quite probable that the reader may be 
confirmed in the commonly-received opinion 
that some people are born to be sick at sea, 
that others are not, and that sailors belong to 
the latter class, or they never would choose 
that as a vocation. He may deem it impos- 
sible that he could ever be freed from the 
danger of sickness when wind and water 
combine to do their Avorst. But this is 
altogether erroneous ; sailors and landsmen 
suffer alike from the same conditions unless 
the one is protected by his intuitions, which 
have becoitie confirmed habits, and in the 
other by knowledge which will permit him 
the exercise of his reason, whereby he may 
intelligently direct his body into the proper 
motions; 

If I have familiarized your mind somewhat 
with storm life upon the ocean, and shown 
the fallacious character of some of your fears, 
my purpose in this part of the work is at- 



STORM LESSON. 109 

tained. A few additional words upon fear 
and its collateral issues, may perform a ser- 
vice for you. This is an element ever at 
work upon the body. Its effect is to induce 
upon the muscular system a state of tension, 
or resistance, and this in conjunction with 
disobedience to gravity produces sea-sick- 
ness. Sea-sickness does not assail the body 
naturally, except there is fear in the mind as 
a groundwork. The immunity from sea- 
sickness enjoyed by the ten per cent, of ocean 
voyagers who are never sick, is due unques- 
tionably to their exemption from fear. Their 
bodies thus left in complete self-possession, 
are sensitive to the delicate action of gravity, 
which they instinctively obey. This is all un- 
conscious to them. I never found any one 
of this class of persons who had a notion 
even why they were not sick like others. It 
is the same Avith the sailor. 

Fear, at times, acts obscurely, but it is 
always efficient. I have reason to believe it 
to be the interior although hidden spring of 



110 SEA-SICKNESS. 

sea-sickness. I do not so affirm it, because I 
am miable to bring obviously to your view 
all the complex mysteries involved in the 
proof. It matters not whether we are con- 
scious or unconscious of its presence, its 
effects upon us will be the same. It and its 
product are precise equivalents of each other, 
hence the degrees are correspondent : that is, 
a frenzy of fear Avill beget a frenzied resist- 
ance, or a rigid tension, and this in turn will 
beget spasmodic sea-sickness. Fear being 
(as stated elsewhere) a conclusion of the 
mind, it can only be removed by the use of 
reason and knowledge. It is well that this 
link of fear in the chain of sequences which 
culminate in sea-sickness should be broken if 
possible, as it detracts greatly from our 
comforts ; but it is not absolutely essential to 
be done, since we are able to destroy its pro- 
duct, which is resistance, by the simple use 
of relaxation. Resistance beinsr also a link 
in said chain, vv^hen that is broken sea-sick- 
ness disappears, having no remaining basis, 



STORM LESSON. Ill 

and leaving the body in true freedom to obey 
gravity in a normal manner. All this is 
quite possible and practical even though fear 
still lingers in the mind. 

It has often been said to me, " I wish I could 
become sea-sick ; I believe it would do me so 
much good." Such words to me, who have 
been racked by its torments, seem ridiculous ; 
still if any such persons retain this desire they 
may gratify it by the use of tension, in pre- 
ponderance. Sea-sickness in this way is as 
easily secured as cessation from it is by the 
use of relaxation. I have been able to secure 
either condition at my option for many years, 
and I possess no powers which are withheld 
from you in this matter. 

One not susceptible to slight causes for 
fear will find it difficult to superinduce it 
upon himself in a degree sufficient to produce 
tension and consequent sea-sickness ; but ten- 
sion itself is at the instant command of the will. 

Sea-sickness has been studied by assuming 
that effects were causes. This method leads 



112 SEA-SlClO\^ESS. 

to an endless labyrinth. The effects em-^ 
braced under the name of sea-sickness are 
numerous beyond computation, while the 
cause is single. AYhen the voluntary muscles 
are set free from their alles^iance to the laws 
of order proper to the body, — which is the 
case by disobedience to gravity, a riot ensues 
in the whole body. The individual members, 
organs, and vessels involved are far more 
numerous than the inhabitants of any city. 
This is what facts compel us to see in the 
body in sea-sickness. We can realize how 
futile would be our efforts in stopping such a 
state of things by acting upon single mem- 
bers. The extent of confusion, and the very 
contradictory character of evidence attain- 
able from the individual rioters, has en- 
shrouded this subject in profound obscurity 
for all past time. Nor, indeed, can we see 
anything but effects, until we rise above this 
chaos into the higher realms of causes. The 
method in use for o:overnin£>: this vast host of 
individuals which compose the human body, 



STORM LESSON. 113 

is by tension and relaxation. Ttie effect of 
tension is to augment force. Eelaxation is 
soothing, and diminishes force. When the 
body is orderly, these methods form an 
arrangement similar to a barometer, regulat- 
ing the supply of life flowing to the volun- 
ary system. Above these, and having the 
veto over any disorderly proceedings of 
theirs is gravity, which is clothed with the 
power to paralyze and reduce to order any 
riotous demonstrations. This is wdiat is done 
when tension assumes wrongful preponder- 
ance over the body, as is the case upon the 
ocean, cliff, or lofty building. The evidence 
of this, and the effect of it, becomes visible 
in the disturbance w^e call sea-sickness, or 
dizziness. The current of life flowing to the 
involuntary system is but slightly influenced 
by the mind. But that coming to the volun- 
tary system is largely under the control of 
the mind. The machinery (as stated above) 
to regulate this supply is tension and relaxa- 
tion. These act, so to speak, like gates 



114 SEA-SICKNESS. 

admitting life to the nerves. The nerves 
under violent and prolonged use of tension 
have the capacity of transporting vastly 
greater volume of life than the muscles are 
able calmly to appropriate. This may be 
continued to the extent of inducing insanity, 
as violent tension opens wide the gates for 
the inflow of life. But the more common 
denouement in case of excessive tension is by 
reaction, when the whole voluntary system 
succumbs to a swoon, and then we have com- 
plete relaxation. This state of things fre- 
quently occurs in spasmodic sea-sickness. 
The swoon will cause instant cessation of 
sea-sickness, and we hear no more from it 
until the patient has recovered from his 
swoon, and had time to regain the control of 
his muscles, Avhen he will usually employ 
tension again, and sea-sickness w^ill recom- 
mence immediately. This forms another 
proof that tension is the cause of sea-sick- 
ness, and relaxation is its cure, and therefore 
under the perfect control of the will. 



6T0EM LESSON. 115 

It is, of course, the radical use of tension 
which forms the basis of our difficulty. 
When the body is under no special excite- 
ment from fear, pain, or other cause, tension 
and relaxation act as steady as a clock pen- 
dulum, and we are quite unconscious of any 
preponderance. Still, if we observe with 
care, we shall see that tension has a small as- 
cendancy over nearly all conditions while 
upon the land, but in ordinary it is very 
slight, indeed. This is orderly and promotes 
health. With those who have attained the 
perfect habit for the ocean, the case is pre- 
cisely reversed from that of the land. There, 
a slight relaxed habit is in the ascendancy, 
but it is so small as hardly to be noticeable 
in ordinary or fair weather. But a change 
in weather will induce an increase of relaxa- 
tion, until the Avhole body will become very 
limp. Beautiful examples of this whole 
process may be seen among the class of per- 
sons Avho are by nature exempt from sea-sick- 
ness. But this class upon the land would 



116 SEA-SICKNESS. 

be called lacking in muscular energy. They 
have no apparent nervous irritability. They 
do not open the gate of tension unduly, and 
are justly to be envied so rich a gift. Their 
exemption, however, has nothing of the pa- 
tent principle about it. We can perform all 
tnat they do, when we understand what that 
is, as we can control our own actions. It is 
desirable to divest this sul)ject of mystery, 
I have su2:2:ested nothin<>; in this work but 
what is common to our daily life as the act of 
breathing. All can be proved by the sight 
or sense of any one. It is not necessary 
to think of a new thing as a mystery Avhen 
we have the ability in ourselves to prove 
the truth of it. It is a novelty that a man 
is fitted in his organism with ballast, w^hich 
acts in all respects similar to ballast in a 
ship, —that it may be placed in our feet by 
our dominant use of relaxation, and in the 
head, shoulder, and arms by tension, or 
changed back and forth, or increased and 
diminished in volume in an instant of time 



STORM LESSON. 117 

by the simple impulse of the mind. All this 
has not been understood, but has always ex- 
isted, both on land and ocean. It is abso- 
lutely essential to man's well-being on the 
land even, that this peculiar movable "bal- 
last should exist in the body. He would, 
in its absence, be deprived of many useful 
things now common to his daily life, and 
he would be forever barred from the ocean. 
This arrangement, to speak plainly, is an 
evasion of the force of gravity. It is one of 
the wheels within a wheel, to be found in the 
body ; but it is not a mystery, as we can ex- 
perience its whole work readily. If I give 
tension dominant command in my body, that 
act, while upon the ocean, does for my body 
the same thing as if I placed the ballast of a 
ship upon her hurricane deck. Of course, 
she would be forced by gravity to turn bot- 
tom up. The effect of tension is the same 
upon my body. It is the effort of gravity 
acting upon this wrongly-located ballast 
which causes the commotion in and upon my 



118 SEA-SICKNESS. 

body which we call sea-sickness. If I re- 
move tension from its command, and cause it 
to assume a subordinate position, I shall have 
relaxation in dominance. That will of itself 
assume control, and all this commotion and 
turmoil will cease. This is so, because 
gravity will be satisfied by this change in the 
location of ballast, and rest is secured to the 
body. 

If you will carefully ponder these instruc- 
tions, and habituate yourself to act upon 
them, the fields in your mind, so fertile in 
production of wonder, mystery, and fear, 
will be cleared of this jungle, and all 
will become lio-ht in the sunshine of intel- 
lio'ence. You will be as calm in the wild 
fury of the tempest as the officers and 
sailors are, you will draw your comfort 
from the same fountain as they do ; and, as 
you will be free from the engrossing sense 
of physical suflfering, you will be at liberty 
to enjoy the unequalled grandeur of the 
ocean storm. 



STORM LESSON. 119 

We have come to the end of our topic, 
and also to the end of sea-sickness. We 
may now enjoy the anticipations of our youth, 
and view with compUicency the great myste- 
rious ocean with all its sparkling splendors, 
and harbor neither fears, dread, nor punish- 
ments, since its terms are familiar to us, 
and we have accepted them, and propose 
faithfuly to abide their conditions. Free- 
dom, enjoyment, and life-giving influence of 
the ocean, this greatest portion of our globe, 
is made over to us in perpetuity. The deed 
of conveyance is recorded, and will never 
become void. The title to this possession is 
unquestionable, as it bears upon it the broad 
seal of natural law. 

The motive which led and sustained this 
endeavor has been punishment inflicted upon 
me by sea-sickness. That alone compelled 
me to study in self-defence, — sea-sickness be- 
came an offence unto me. It assumed in my 
mind the character of a personal enemy, who 
had wrongfully deprived me of my proper 



120 SEA-SICKNESS. 

ri2:hts. Those rio'hts are no lono-er withheld 

o o o 

from me. They have become equally your 
rights, and are for your comfort and enjoy- 
ment. 

^'And if toe do but watch the Jiour^ 
There never yet was human power , 
Which could evade if unf or given 
The patient search and vigil long 
Of him loho treasures up a lorong.'^ 



KOTES. 

Life. — Mind. —Nerves. — Muscles.— Sleep.— 

Citations. 



IX. 

Note 1. — Life. 

In the use of the term Life in this work, 
I mean that invisible and intangible power 
which is present in the human body, and 
which is the source of all motion and opera- 
tion therein. Science does not yet vouchsafe 
an explanation of it except from the effects 
it produces. These declare it to be the 
source of all power upon and in the plane 
of matter. Life is believed to be spiritual, 
the gift of an infinite Creator, boundless in 
volume, uniform in quality, and free to all 
things which are so constituted as to be able 
to make use of it. Its endless variety in 

121 



122 SEA-SICKXESS. 

manifestation is due to the combination of 
matter, through which it acts, and not at all 
to any change in the quality of life itself. It 
is the source of force to the animal, plant, 
and mineral alike. Life flows into man's 
body, and there a portion is delegated to his 
control which he may freely use in the pro- 
duction of varying results. Another portfon 
is w^ithheld from man's control, and it acts 
upon the body independently, and continues 
its ceaseless work so Ions; as the constituents 
of the body are maintained in their orderly 
arrangement and integrity. Upon man's 
orderly use of this delegated life depends the 
continuance of harmony to his body and its 
lengthened permanency. 

Note 2. — Mind. 

The mind is a spiritual organ, and is con- 
nected in a mysterious way with the brain, in 
which lies its centre of action. By means of 
its endowment with reason, memory, and 



NOTES. 123 

many other faculties, it is able to take cogni- 
zance of the internal world of spirit ; while, 
through the bodily organs, it takes in knowl- 
edge of the outside world of matter. It is 
thus fitted to act as the srovernino: intellisrence 

o o o 

to control and direct the body. 

Its province is to act judicially and deci- 
sively upon all matters brought before it. It 
hears evidence, weighs it, and decides 
according to the light it has, and the faculty 
of reason. It stands as umpire between the 
noble and Godlike faculty of reason and 
the selfish senses of the body. It is a 
court of last resort for the determination of 
action. 

In this most important and responsible 
capacity it demands our best care in supply- 
ing it with every possible facility for educa- 
tion and knowledge. 

Note 3. — Nerves. 

The nerves are the only means of commu- 
nication between the brain and muscles. 



124 SEA-SICKXESS. 

They are endowed with dual powers, and are 
thereby fitted to become the agents by which 
the mind (which is spiritual) is enabled to 
act upon the world of matter. 

The nerve substance is a modified form of 
brain matter. The peculiar plexiform ar- 
rangement and relays for special service are 
most wonderful adaptations of means to 
ends. 

The nerves, though material in substance, 
are vehicles to carry the forces of life and 
intelligence from the brain, or mind, to all 
parts of the body ; and also transmit direc- 
tions for their use. Their analogue is to be 
seen in the telegraph, in many respects, and 
the mind makes such use of them in its gov- 
ernmental care over the body. 

Life cannot operate in the body where 
there are no nerves to convey it. Sever the 
nerves which pass to a leg, and although all 
else in that limb still remains intact it must 
die. Hence the nerves are protected from 
injury by the arrangement of their location. 



NOTES. 125 

Note 4. — Muscles. 

The muscles are purely material, and are, 
perhaps, often considered as plebeian in com- 
parison with the nerves. This is a mistake. 
Nothing in the realm of matter is more noble 
or excellent in quality or endowment. They 
are the first demonstrators of life to the eye of 
sense. They receive life and convert it into 
force ; and employ that upon the plane of mat- 
ter. Their structure and arrano;ement me- 
chanically, and viewed superficially, seem an 
inexplicable tangle of crossing and interlacing 
fibres without order ; a complete chaos and 
confusion. But seen by the trained eye, they 
are order itself, and far surpass all possibte 
ideals of sciencein their beautiful adaptation to 
the uses they are designed to subserve. Con- 
sidered chemically, their substance is nearly 
the same as that of the blood. The delicate 
vessels w^hich make up the attenuated fibres, 
w^hich together form the body of the muscles, 
are numbered by millions ; and, while each 



126 SEA-SICKNESS. 

vessel appears a sentient and complete whole, 
they are gathered into companies, and act to- 
gether as separate muscles. Through the 
whole the invisible power of life inflows, and 
is there chans^ed into livins; force. Throuo:h 

o o c 

this instrumentality Life, Reason, and all 
spiritual qualities are manifested upon the 
material plane. 

Note 5. — Sleep. 

Few conditions connected with the phe- 
nomena of the human body are more inter- 
esting to the student than that of sleep. It 
is a state so common that few consider the 
wonders involved in it. 

Until we obtain some dcOTee of knowledo:e 
of the manner in which the body lives and 
acts, the whys and wherefores connected with 
sleep are a profound mystery to us. The 
introduction of knowledge respecting the 
functions and order of the body and their 
maintenance affords us light, and discloses 
that sleep is an emergency that must be pro- 



NOTES. 127 

vided for. If neglected from any cause the 
body must sooner or later succumb to waste 
and decay. In the season of sleep the volun- 
tary muscles are off duty and comparatively 
idle. They are now in a state to receive the 
care and nursing needful to repair their 
wasted condition, and fit them for the tre- 
mendous labors imposed upon them during 
wakefulness by their active taskmaster, the 
mind. We now see the wonderful provision 
designed to meet this emergency in the in- 
voluntary system which now has a free field in 
which to perform its necessary work, and with 
ceaseless activity refits and rebuilds the wasted 
vessels of the voluntary system. The labor 
incident to this refitting process, when under- 
stood, is something fabulous in amount. 
Consider alone the millions on millions of 
separate fibres or entities which go to make 
up the substance of the muscles, and that 
each one must have its appropriate attention. 
Any lack will react with pain and discomfort. 
All this labor is performed by the force of 



128 SEA-SICKNESS. 

life acting through the tireless, involuntary 
system. 

It is only in sleep this labor can be perr 
formed in true perfection. No one would 
think of repairing a machine made up of 
wheels within wheels while the whole was in 
full motion. 

The mind, being a spiritual organ, cannot 
make itself tangible in the world of matter 
without an instrument through which it may 
act. The mind does not control the involun- 
tary system, except slightly, by sympathy. 
That system does not become wary, but the 
voluntary system is under the control of the 
mind, and it may be forced by the mind far 
beyond its natural powers of endurance. 
The mind itself does not sleep ; it requires no 
rest; it is not matter, but spirit. It can 
think and reason, and when the tired muscles 
give token of overwork, the mind (if intelli- 
gent) will lighten their tasks and afford them 
refreshment ; if unintelligent it has the 
power, and may force the muscles to complete 



NOTES. 129 

exhaustion, and this will induce sleep with- 
out regard to the mind. 

It will now be understood why certain 
charges (alluded to elsewhere) when left 
upon the mind to be performed during sleep 
should interfere with the recuperating effects 
of sleep. It will also be seen that the mind 
is the same when the body sleeps or when 
awake. 

It is well known that the body performs 
many actions, which are termed automatic, 
during wakefulness, and that these acts 
appear to be without the care or direction of 
the mind. We sometimes call these acts second 
nature. It is not true that such acts escape 
the attention of the mind. It is true that 
many acts are so completely learned that it 
requires hardly any perceptible force to per- 
form them. Such acts do not cause friction- 
and they appear to be the result of no mind, 
action ; but it is only an appearance. The 
mind is watchful over all the labors of the 
body in wakefulness or sleep. If the mind 



130 SEA-SICKNESS. 

has learned the duty required of it, and such 
thing is left as a charge upon the mind to be 
done in sleep, it will be performed with the 
minimum of friction upon the body ; on the 
other hand, if the mind but partially under- 
stands the charge so imposed, the friction or 
disturbance to the body will be at the maxi- 
mum. This enables us to see the precise 
value of practice upon the muscles in order 
to secure comfort in our bodies during 
sleep. 

The importance of good air during sleep is 
very great. Good air means a pure mixture 
of eight}^ per cent, nitrogen and twenty per 
cent, oxygen. Nitrogen is the builder of the 
body ; oxygen is the board of health for the 
body. It clears away all rubbish, and pre- 
pares the ground to build upon. Oxygen is 
not life, but it prepares for life. It is said 
that there are six hundred million separate 
rooms in the human. lungs, and these are all 
carefully swept and dusted out at each steady 
respiration during sleep. 



SUPEEINDUCING SEA-SICKNESS. 



Citation. — Case J. F. 

Tins case is of J. F., a young man of 
about twenty-two years ; is connected with 
the U. S. Kailway Mail Service. As is 
usual in that service, he is on and off service 
alternate weeks. He is a bright, quick, 
active man in body and mind. He has 
understood the system herein for preventing 
sea-sickness about one year; has tested it 
many times, and always wdth success. He 
was previously sick when on the water. On 
the 26th June, 1883, being out with a 
large pleasure party in a steamer of about 
two thousand tons register, he conceived the 
idea of experimenting, to induce upon him- 
self sea-sickness, by using the regular rules. 

131 



132 SEA-SICKNESS. 

The day was fine, the wind moderate; 
the swells about ten feet rise and fall; the 
position about thirty miles out. The course 
of the steamer during the experiment was 
oblique across the axis of the swells, afford- 
ing a fair amount of roll and motion. There 
was quite a number among the company 
violently demonstrating their sickness. A 
larger number showed token of severe suffer- 
ing, but took it pensively. Very few could 
disguise that they were not doing penance. 
J. F. was in high spirits and perfectly well. 
He now caused his body to become tense, 
like one ready for a dance. In a few mo- 
ments (he thinks ten) his knees showed marked 
signs of weariness, — assuming a shaky 
state, with a tremor, more or less pronounced, 
running through his body. He found it quite 
difficult to retain any fixed position; was 
restless and uneasy. Soon his head com- 
menced aching and increased apace, until it 
seemed as if it would verily split open. The 
vessel now seemed to be moving round and 



CITATIONS. 133 

round. Objects became confused and in- 
distinct. His head now seemed to him as if 
it was twice its natural size and very heavy, 
but the pain in it w^as less. His thought 
began to work less rapidly. His throat 
became involved, as if knotted or strangu- 
lated, thereby obstructing his breathing. 
He became sensibly weaker. The very 
uneasy feeling had now passed away. 
Presently his whole internal economy be- 
came convulsed, calling for so much of his 
attention that his head and other parts were 
not noted or remembered. He w^as very 
soon forced to part with the contents of his 
stomach, which appeared to relieve him 
somewhat for the moment, but he was now 
so weak he could not move about, but could 
maintain himself in a chair, but he felt very 
uncomfortable. At this juncture he con- 
cluded he had done all the experimenting 
that he desired, and commenced retrieving 
himself according to the rules, which he found 
practical and easy, and at the end of one 



134 SEA-SICKNESS. 

hour and a half he found himself well and 
hungry ; but he will not try this again, as his 
curiosity was abundantly satisfied. 

The author was not present, nor was he 
informed of any such intention on the part 
of J. F. If the author had been advised, he 
would not have recommended so long con- 
tinuance. There is a danger-line very near 
where J. F. ceased his experiment, which, if 
he had passed over it, he would not have had 
the power to recover himself without assist- 
ance. It would appear that J. F.'s mind 
still held the government over some portion 
of his muscular power, and such portion 
formed the rendezvous for the routed and 
disorderly element to fall into line and thus 
secure order. 

This citation shows that this power of 
command over sea-sickness is enjoyed by 
man. It also discloses the stages of progress 
and the method which gravity uses to reduce 
his rebellious subjects to obedience and 
order. 



CITATIONS. 135 

The author, however, has found that the 
routine practiced by gravity in reduction is 
not alike in individuals, nor in the same 
individual at different times, but the final 
result is in all nearly the same. He has 
himself induced sea-sickness upon his body, 
and no headache would appear, but there 
would be abundant nausea, and at other 
times it would be vice versa. He has also 
had a whole deluge of symptoms upon him 
all at once, and the progress would so 
rapidly conclude that very little time was 
afforded for the mind to act in planning a 
retreat. Hence it is unsafe for one to ex- 
periment unless the person really is desirous 
of torture, and fully understands practically 
how bad sea-sickness is. 

The idea that sea-sickness is a blessing in 
disguise is a pure fiction. This difficulty 
stands objectively before me in all its ugly 
deformity. It is naked and transparent to my 
mind. To me its methods are familiar even 
to the most bitter experience. After years 



136 SEA-SICKNESS. 

of patient and resolute explorations and care- 
ful observation upon myself and numbers of 
others, I pronounce it evil, and only evil ! It 
is vicious, in all respects, upon the poor, 
innocent bod3\ It linp:ers in my mind as 
absolutely piratical, and — 

^^ Linked loith no virtue^ but a thousand 



I isr D E X. 



A. 

Page 

Appeal to physicians 7 

Address to reader 9 

Apathy of the world upon the subject . . 14 

Authority of mind over the body lost ... 27 

Administration of motion on land and sea . 86 

Army in actual battle, illustration .... 96 

Ailment, severity of . 27 

Axiom, ancient 45 

Art, the motions of sailor an 49 

Agassiz, classification of sailor 48 

Author's schooling and degree . . . . . 50 

fines and penalties 50 

musings over his wrongs 51 

constitution, always sick 55 

motive in this book .119 

Aspirations of physician for his patient . . 68 

Antagonism of factors in sea-sickness ... 60 

Adjus'_ment between factors in sea-sickness . 60 

Accurate brain assured by relaxation ... 65 

Acute perception assured by relaxation . . 65 
Adapt themselves, the first class on the 

ocean 56 

Absurdity of lieavy feet 8 

Anomaly of the sailor's motions 107 

137 



138 INDEX. 



B. 



Boyhood, the author's 19 

Ballast, for man's body, natural S4 

for a sliip 38 

explained in use 117 

Berth, directi ns about 44 

Basis for resistance 45 

Beginners in ocean travel, directions ... 71 

Bed clothing, extra, for voyage 74 

Blood, irregular in distribution 43 

Baffled, ])hysician by sea-f-ickness .... 68 

Banished from home by sea-sickness ... 17 

Brain-sick man of the land improved ... 18 

Barred by sea-sickness 101 

Breaking waves 102 

C. 

Crime not to understand sea-sickness . . • 15 
Chance of escape, gravity allows a . . . .30 

Controlled, sea-sickness has always . . . . 31 

Conflicting forces in the body 32 

Childhood's knowledge 29 

Contrast, the land and ocean 88 

Complication, of motion . 39 

Cure of tension 46 

Classes, in general, on the ocean .... 47 

first class, — a description . . . . . 56 

second and third class, — a description . 58 

Clew, the first found 51 

Confirmed by 58 

Cliff, effects produced by 29 

Carriage riding, effects of 62 

Control of body, easy 69 



INDEX. 139 



Clothing, extra, for voyage 74 

Contaminations, none on the ocean ... 68 

Caution to the reader 98-84 

Confidence, absurd . 92 

Chain of sequences 110 

how broken Ill 

Citation, J. F., inducing sea-sickness . • .131 

its lesson 134 

D. 

Difficulties in producing this work .... 10 
Delay, why this solution has not been sooner 

found 11 

Drugs, a disturbing cause and not permitted, 18 

explanation 93 

Dizzy, on a cliff or high building .... 29 

Details of the disturbance 26 

Disease, no organic, in sea-sickness .... 97 

explained 93 

Discomforts, none, if obedient 34 

Disturbance, general in the whole body . . 42 

Diaphragm affected 42 

Directions for berth 42 

Dark continent, — sea-sickness always has 

been a . , 10 

Discouraged, none should be ...... 92 

Discovery of this knowledge 95 

Dismay of the landsman in storm . . . .105 

Dominant command 117 

E. 

Evasion of gravity . . 117 

Education of muscles ........ 20 

mind a tutor in . 87 



140 INDEX. 

Equilibrium, or the body at rest . . . . 28 

Easy use of relaxation 85 

Emetic, motion acts the same as an ... 42 

Exaggerations of the sailor 49 

of the sailor, why he does so .... 49 

Exiled men by sea-sickness 17 

Envy, a big dose taken by the author ... 51 

Experience of author 13-51 

of author by day 52 

Experiment of author 52 

Encouraged by success 55 

Exempts, why by nature so 56 

Enemy which neutralizes . 63 

Explanation of mystery for the physician . 64 

Errors in the use of excessive tension ... 65 

Entangled in a storm 11 

Effects, the nature of 10 

have been assumed as a cause . . . .111 

the error of 112 

all that is visible are 112 

Engraver, how benefited in art 65 

F. 

Factors, three in number 59 

they antagonize 60 

the body must yield to the other ... 60 

Friendly power, gravity is a 28 

Fire-arms, accuracy assured 65 

Food on the ocean, directions ..... 73 

Fear in the mind 30 

Fear, explanation of 89 

vahie of \ .... 90 

quality of .......*..• 90 

Fear in sea-sickness, w^hat it does .... 109 



INDEX. 141 



Fear, peculiarities of 109 

False notion 108 

Frenzy of fear will beget spasmodic sea- 
sickness 110 

Fierce wind, effects on ship 109 

G. 

Gravity in general • • 24 

illustration. Dish of water .... 27 

in childhood, how learned 29 

how it acts 29 

not generally understood 31 

forbids continuous tension on ocean . . 33 

its stages of progress 31 

a factor in sea-sickness 59 

Guide, none extant for this study . . . . 10 

Glimpses of disorder ........ 112-26 

Government of the body 112 

H. 

Health giver, the ocean a ....... 16 

Heavy feet, how produced 33 

their use 33 

how changed to light 81 

Human plants, in cities 68 

their reasonable hoj)e . , . . . . .69 

Habit, in general 76 

illustration by music 77 

formation of 78 

power of ... 79 

easy 79 

Human body, a factor in sea-sickness ... 59 

Healthy, the victims organs are ..... 93 



142 INDEX. 



I. 



Interest, the author's 12 

Invohintary muscles 19 

Illustration of weight 44 

of swing 41 

carriage-springs 83 

the raised plank-walk 87 

of fear in its work 91 

awaking from slumber 91 

a house tipped partly over 97 

Ignorance has odor of crime 15 

Ignorance of the author 52 

Ignorance, the thread so easy broken ... 60 

Imitation, the true engineer in this study . 52 

Insanity from excessive tension 65 

Investigations of relaxation 69 

Imperious, the rule of non-resistance on ocean, 75 
Immunity of the first class, the cause . . .109 

J. 

Jungle, sea-sickness is a perfect 10 

K. 

Knowledge, how found 97 

physician can supply you 94 

L. 

Laws of the body 18 

Loose muscles, the requirement of .... 33 

Level head, significant 66 

Life-line for the storm ........ 103 



INDEX. 143 

Landsman's ignorance . . . . . . . .106 

Landsman, what he sees, and how he sees . 106 
Labyrinth, study of sea-sickness has been a . 112 
Lofty building, dizzy. Its cessation . . .113 
Land-motion the reverse of sea-motion . .115 
Life explained . 121 

M. 

Motion of the body 19 

Motion, comparison of land and sea ... 86 

Muscles, their order 21 

mode of service .21 

government of 21 

loose for the ocean 33 

tense for the land 33 

educated 87 

fitted for ocean service 88 

explained 122 

Mind loses its command 26 

when convinced all is well 35 

explained 122 

Mistakes as to cause 43 

Machines, the human body 66 

Mystery explained 64 

Mental control of body . 80 

Motive of the author 119 

Mazeppa 120 

K 

Nerves, what they are 22 

their office in the body 22 

structure 22 

explained . 123 



144 INDEX. 



Nature of sea-sickness 34 

No disease in sea-siekness 27 

No palliation that it is not disease ... 27 

Noises on ship 104 

O. 

Origin of this work 10 

Opposing forces one meets 23 

Ocean motions . 87 

reir.edial value of 67 

nature's alembic . 68 

Old, old story 43 

Order and disorder 112 

R 

Progress hindered by sea-sickness . . . . 16 

Physiology, brief recapitulation of ... 18 

Powers of body at command of mind ... 23 

Palliation, it is none to call it no disease . . 27 

Perfect and only remedy 35 

Plumb-ball and line lesson 39 

Peculiar sensation by motion 40 

Proofs from observation on ocean .... 47 

to be seen and felt and known . . . 116 

Perception by the mind 70 

by the traveller . 107 

Physician, his aspirations checked .... 68 

can be a natural sailor in a moment . . 86 

can instruct you if you need .... 94 

the fountain if you need knowledge . . 95 

his attitude honest 95 

Powers of adjustment held by the body . . 60 

Preponderant relaxation 8 



INDEX. 145 

Practice, value of 85-92 

Problem to solve 87 

Pleasing power of relaxation 94 

R. 

Rebuffs of the author 13 

Reader will find the need ....... 14 

Realm of the body 22 

its wonders 22 

Relaxation, its powers 82 

the sailor's secret 50 

in general use 61 

on the ocean 115 

examples 115 

Resistance, its power 35 

same as tension in effect 56 

Roll of ship explained 37 

Rocking-chair, a thing to know . . . . . 62 
Rising in the morning when on board ... 74 
Radical change in acquiring habit .... 85 

in the use of tension 115 

Recuperation in sleep 91 

Riot in body 112 

Study by the author 45-14 

Sceptical, the world has reason to be . . . 14 

Strange attitude 15 

Stimulus, the word discarded ..... 19 

Sea-sickness, cause 27 

description 97 

Stages of progress, gravity 30 

Springs in the body like a coil of wire . . 32 



146 IKDEX. 

Springs cannot be used on ocean .... 33 

made for the land only 32 

Sleep, the mind is guard in 43-35 

directions . 43-90 

general explanations 91-126 

Swell, its motions 37 

Ship, motions 39 

description 39 

in a storm circuit 104 

Sailor's legs, their value, — but not enough . 44 

Sailor, study of 47 

proofs by 50 

a schoolmaster 50 

aloft or below 51 

his playmates — his pride 49 

is sick unless 85 

scientific 107 

Stage-coach, steam-car, swing, — dizzy . . 55 

Surgeon's success in his delicate tasks . . 65 

Stimulated thought by a dose of envy . . 51 

Stubborn facts, not elegant diction ... 9 

Storm, description of 100 

Sick or well at pleasure Ill 

Swoon, evidence and lesson 114 

Self-defence, this study was in .... . 119 

T. 

Topic, not literary 9 

Treasures of Europe 15 

Task of author 17 

Tension explained 32 

on land and water 115 

Tortures of the body by sea-sickness ... 35 
Tidal, the motions are .40 



INDEX. 147 

Tense muscles 40 

Travel ordered by the physician .... 62 

why ordered 63 

why it fails of success ...... 64 

Toilet, care to be taken in 74 

Test to know the true motions 82 

U. 

Unity of force secured to the body ... 26 

how lost 26 

Uses of the ocean 67 

Unbelief in any cure general 11 

reason of 11 

Y. 

Voluntary muscles 20 

Vertical motions 41 

Virgil 99 

W. 

Wreck of body 66 

Wealth powerless to command 68 

Water coming on board ship 104 

Wheels within wheels in the body . . .117 

Y. 

Yielding to power by the body S2 



